Conformation of hind legs and lameness in Danish Holstein heifers

Journal of Dairy Science
N CapionC Enevoldsen

Abstract

Lameness causes major financial losses and welfare problems in dairy herds. Prevention of foot lesions may suffice in the majority of lameness cases. The objectives of this longitudinal study were to describe the dynamics and associations between abnormal hind leg conformation, asymmetric claws, lameness, and foot lesions in 122 Danish Holstein heifers from an average of 41 d before first calving until dry off or culling. The cattle were housed either in a free-stall system with cubicles or in deep-bedded straw yard. The claws of all cattle were examined on up to 5 occasions. The associations between foot lesions, lameness, symmetry of the claws, shape of the dorsal toe-wall, and the conformation of the hind legs were examined statistically using mixed models. A large proportion (81%) of the heifers had cow-hocked conformation, with wide-based stance, hocks together, and lateral rotation of the foot before calving, and 25% of the heifers had locomotion scores above 2, indicating signs of lameness, before calving. Our results indicate that lameness, abnormal conformation, and lesions acquired precalving persist throughout the first lactation. Thinner cows were more cow-hocked, and cow-hocked cows had a higher frequency of sole h...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Oct 25, 2013·Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience·A KougioumtzisG Banos
Apr 30, 2014·BMC Veterinary Research·Pryscilla V R GonçalvesNaida C Borges
Dec 5, 2014·Animal Science Journal = Nihon Chikusan Gakkaihō·Yosuke SasakiMasuo Sueyoshi
Nov 21, 2017·Journal of Dairy Science·A J HeinrichsC M Jones
Mar 31, 2012·Journal of Dairy Science·B Winkler, J K Margerison
Nov 20, 2019·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Laura E DeemingGosia Zobel
Apr 2, 2015·Journal of Dairy Science·L V RandallJ N Huxley
May 12, 2020·Journal of Dairy Science·Karl NussJudith Mueller

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