A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows
Abstract Background Lameness in dairy cows has been an ongoing concern of great relevance to animal welfare and productivity in modern dairy production. Many studies have examined associations between various factors related to housing, management, and the individual animal and the occurrence of lam...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2095-2 |
| _version_ | 1819014885835538432 |
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| author | Andreas W. Oehm Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer Anna Rieger Alexander Stoll Sonja Hartnack |
| author_facet | Andreas W. Oehm Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer Anna Rieger Alexander Stoll Sonja Hartnack |
| author_sort | Andreas W. Oehm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Lameness in dairy cows has been an ongoing concern of great relevance to animal welfare and productivity in modern dairy production. Many studies have examined associations between various factors related to housing, management, and the individual animal and the occurrence of lameness. The objective of this systematic review was to answer the research question “what are risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows that are housed in free stall barns or tie stall facilities”. Furthermore, we performed a synthesis of current evidence on certain risk factors by means of a meta-analysis to illustrate the strength of their association with bovine lameness. Results Following pre-defined procedures and inclusion criteria in accordance with the PRISMA statement, two observers independently included 53 articles out of a pool of 1941 articles which had been retrieved by a broad literature research in a first step. 128 factors that have been associated with lameness were identified in those papers. Meta-analyses were conducted for five factors presented in six different studies: Body condition score, presence of claw overgrowth, days in milk, herd size, and parity. Results indicated that a body condition score of ≤2.5/5 is associated with increased odds of lameness. A higher risk of being lame was found for the presence of claw overgrowth, the first 120 days in milk, larger herd sizes, and increasing parity. Throughout the study, we encountered profound difficulties in retrieving data and information of sufficient quality from primary articles as well as in recovering comparable studies. Conclusions We learned that an abundance of literature on bovine lameness exists. To adequately address a problem of this importance to both animal welfare and economic viability, solid evidence is required in the future to develop effective intervention strategies. Therefore, a consistent working definition of lameness and specific risk factors should be an option to consider. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:22:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c694748c5214c038d87a661641ae178 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:22:57Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c694748c5214c038d87a661641ae1782022-12-21T19:19:05ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482019-10-0115111410.1186/s12917-019-2095-2A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cowsAndreas W. Oehm0Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer1Anna Rieger2Alexander Stoll3Sonja Hartnack4Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenClinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenClinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenClinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenSection of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichAbstract Background Lameness in dairy cows has been an ongoing concern of great relevance to animal welfare and productivity in modern dairy production. Many studies have examined associations between various factors related to housing, management, and the individual animal and the occurrence of lameness. The objective of this systematic review was to answer the research question “what are risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows that are housed in free stall barns or tie stall facilities”. Furthermore, we performed a synthesis of current evidence on certain risk factors by means of a meta-analysis to illustrate the strength of their association with bovine lameness. Results Following pre-defined procedures and inclusion criteria in accordance with the PRISMA statement, two observers independently included 53 articles out of a pool of 1941 articles which had been retrieved by a broad literature research in a first step. 128 factors that have been associated with lameness were identified in those papers. Meta-analyses were conducted for five factors presented in six different studies: Body condition score, presence of claw overgrowth, days in milk, herd size, and parity. Results indicated that a body condition score of ≤2.5/5 is associated with increased odds of lameness. A higher risk of being lame was found for the presence of claw overgrowth, the first 120 days in milk, larger herd sizes, and increasing parity. Throughout the study, we encountered profound difficulties in retrieving data and information of sufficient quality from primary articles as well as in recovering comparable studies. Conclusions We learned that an abundance of literature on bovine lameness exists. To adequately address a problem of this importance to both animal welfare and economic viability, solid evidence is required in the future to develop effective intervention strategies. Therefore, a consistent working definition of lameness and specific risk factors should be an option to consider.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2095-2LocomotionGait disturbanceCattleBovineCow welfare |
| spellingShingle | Andreas W. Oehm Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer Anna Rieger Alexander Stoll Sonja Hartnack A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows BMC Veterinary Research Locomotion Gait disturbance Cattle Bovine Cow welfare |
| title | A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows |
| title_full | A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows |
| title_short | A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows |
| title_sort | systematic review and meta analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows |
| topic | Locomotion Gait disturbance Cattle Bovine Cow welfare |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2095-2 |
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