Prevalence and characterization of band-shaped tail lesions in Danish Holstein dairy cows

Abstract

Band-shaped tail lesions in Danish Holstein dairy cows are present either as wounds or in the form of connective tissue formations. Both types are characterized by a median localization 7 cm from the tip of the tail, are always occurring on the dorsal side of the tail, which they can envelop completely or to varying degrees, and are often present as single lesions (93%). The prevalence of band-shaped tail lesions was observed to be 25% among 2099 cows examined in 16 Danish dairy herds with a variation from 18–40% between herds. In the herds the wound lesions and the connective tissue formations accounted for 22% and 78% of all band-shaped tail lesions, respectively. Among 458 cows examined at an abattoir the prevalence of band-shaped tail lesions was 23%, i.e. similar to the prevalence within the herds. At the abattoir the share of band-shaped wound lesions was 67% and the band-shaped connective tissue formation 33%. Associations between the occurrence of band-shaped tail lesions and parity and lack of the tail tip were observed.