Effects of type of forage fed to dairy heifers: Associations between claw characteristics, clinical lameness, environment and behaviour

Leach, K. A.; Offer, JE; If, Svoboda; Logue, D.N.

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.03.023

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…First, the patho-physiological changes that occur around calving and alter the anatomical relationships between third phalanx and claw horn capsule 21 may not cause permanent anatomical changes in the feet of first lactation heifers, providing their housing and nutrition are of an acceptable standard. If they are, both lesion and locomotion scores improve without treatment 22,23 but if poor husbandry factors remain, lameness and accompanying pain will result. In a relatively young and fit milking heifer that has been treated soon after it has been first observed as lame, hyperalgesia in the affected claw should not become established 24 and locomotion and activity levels may be maintained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short term effect of treating claw horn lesions in dairy cattle on their locomotion, activity and milk yield

Montgomery¹,

Forgan

Hayhurst

et al. 2012

Vet Sci Develop

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The immediate effect on dairy cow mobility, daily activity and milk yield following treatment for claw horn disease was examined in 306 lame cows located on four Cheshire dairy farms over twelve months. The daily activity and milk yield of all cows in these herds was recorded on computer using pedometers and in-parlour milk flow meters. Lame cows identified by stockmen were assessed subjectively by locomotion score, then restrained and their claws examined to identify the predominant lesion present. Those with locomotion scores ≥2.5 that presented with sole ulcer, haemorrhage and bruising, or white line disease were studied. Claws of the affected limb were trimmed by one paraprofessional claw trimmer using the five-step Dutch method and the affected claw unloaded either by trimming or application of a block to the healthy digit: those on the contra-lateral limb were trimmed similarly. The same observer repeated the locomotion score assessment seven days later: trimming reduced the proportion of lame cows (score ≥3) by 55% and those with poor gait (score ≤3 ≥2.5) by 49%, and the proportion of all cows not lame after trimming was 51% (χ 2 4.94: P≤0.001). Night time activity levels increased from 76 to 81 steps/hour on day 2 after treatment (P<0.05) but this was not maintained: daily milk yields fell by 2%. Using univariate mixed models, year and season, parity and farm all had significant effects on locomotion and activity levels. This treatment for claw horn disease in lame dairy cows improved their immediate health and welfare.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short term effect of treating claw horn lesions in dairy cattle on their locomotion, activity and milk yield

Montgomery¹,

Forgan

Hayhurst

et al. 2012

Vet Sci Develop

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“…Numerous studies provided evidence that deficient hygiene through accumulat ion of liquid manure in the housing environment of animals led to macerat ion and damage of hooves, and made them vulnerable to pathogenic agents, whereas dry conditions on walkways maintain the robustness and intactness of hooves [5,6,17]. Hultgren and Bergsten [18] attributed the variation for heel-horn erosion between herds to different hygienic conditions of walking and lying areas.…”

Section: Inci Dencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of Robotic Walkway Cleaning for Hoof Disorders in Dairy Cattle

Doerfler¹,

Martin²,

Bernhardt³

2017

IJERA

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Infectious hoof disorders are a serious challenge for dairy production since they cause pain and discomfort in cows and can compromise the competitiveness of dairy farming. Robot scrapers are capable of frequently removing liquid manure fro m slatted floors and can contribute to improved hygiene of walkways. The aim of this study was to observe the imp licat ions of the robotic cleaning of walking areas for infectious hoof disorders in dairy cattle. A large herd ranging fro m 1,247 to 1,328 Holstein Friesian co ws was monitored in two six-month periods in 2012 and in 2013. A ll animals were housed in a cubicle housing system with slatted floors in wh ich walkways were cleaned using robot scrapers in 2013 but not in 2012. Statistical analysis was carried out with either the Chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test in R. Results indicated that the presence of infectious hoof disorders declined after robot scrapers were used for the cleaning of walkways. While in the first investigation period 648 animals suffered from infectious hoof diseases, in the second period only 340 animals were affected. This study stresses the significance of environmental hygiene to improve hoof health in dairy cattle.

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“…Cows permanently housed are more likely to show digital skin and horn disorders owing to standing constantly on concrete and wet manure (Wells et al, 1993;Bergsten and Herlin, 1996;Gitau et al, 1996;Wells et al, 1999;Cook, 2003;de Vries et al, 2005;Leach et al, 2005;Sogstad et al, 2005;Haskell et al, 2006;Holzhauer et al, 2012). Even limited access to pasture or simply allowing cows to exercise in paddocks was shown to reduce lameness incidence, severity and time to full recovery (Gustafson, 1993;Vermunt and Greenough, 1994;Loberg et al, 2004;Regula et al, 2004;Bielfeldt et al, 2005;Hernandez-Mendo et al, 2007;Rouha-Mülleder et al, 2009;Burow et al, 2013;Richert et al, 2013b).…”

Section: Housing Type Including Pastures or Outdoor Pensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transition diets with low fibre, short duration of fibre intake and restricted forage intake near calving increases laminitis and lameness prevalence (DeChant et al, 1998;Donovan et al, 2004). Cows eating wet fermented diets had more hoof problems than those with a dry diet (Leach et al, 2005). Ruminal acidosis and laminitis in pasture-fed cattle should be taken into account in pastures with low levels of effective fibre, rapid rates of fibre degradation, high water content and high concentrations of rumen-degradable protein, particularly when supplemented with concentrate (Westwood et al, 2003) Output: milk yield per cow…”

Section: Housing Type Including Pastures or Outdoor Pensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on the assessment of dairy cow welfare in small‐scale farming systems

2015

EFS2

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This opinion reviews information on small-scale dairy cow farming systems in Europe, including the impact of production diseases on welfare of cows, and proposes a methodology for welfare assessment in those systems. To address specific expectations of consumers that food be produced locally or regionally or maintaining acceptable animal welfare conditions, in addition to herd size, criteria to define farms as "non-conventional" were proposed. Several sources were investigated for identifying criteria for the description and categorisation of small-scale farms, including dairy umbrella organisations and literature. In addition to herd size (up to 75 cows), proposed criteria related to small-scale farming comprise the workforce source, input level, indigenous breed use and production type certification. To cover the large diversity of farming systems across Europe, it was proposed that farms meeting at least two of these criteria be considered non-conventional. To adapt the welfare assessment to small-scale farms, the same risk factors and welfare consequences, as measured by corresponding animalbased measures identified in previous opinions for intensive farming systems were considered to be also relevant for small-scale systems. In addition, factors related to resources provided on pasture (e.g. shelter), management of pasture (e.g. mixing herds) and management of the cows (e.g. use of local breeds) were considered more likely to be present in small-scale systems. An on-farm survey was run to collect data for welfare assessment from 124 European farms. The distribution of risk factors and animal-based measures varied across the full range in study farms and showed similar patterns in farms with different grazing systems (from no time to full year on pasture). The animal-based measures identified for intensive farming are well suited for application in smallscale dairy farms. Production disease impact on the individual animal's welfare state does not depend on herd size or farming system.

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Effects of type of forage fed to dairy heifers: Associations between claw characteristics, clinical lameness, environment and behaviour

Cited by 20 publications

References 26 publications

Short term effect of treating claw horn lesions in dairy cattle on their locomotion, activity and milk yield

Short term effect of treating claw horn lesions in dairy cattle on their locomotion, activity and milk yield

Implications of Robotic Walkway Cleaning for Hoof Disorders in Dairy Cattle

Scientific Opinion on the assessment of dairy cow welfare in small‐scale farming systems

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