Clinical lameness in postpartum lactating dairy cattle: a prevalence study

A study was carried out to identify the prevalence of clinical lameness and associated claw affections in dairy cows using claw health indicators, claw dimensions and locomotion scoring. Hundred postpartum lactating dairy cattle reared under similar managemental conditions were subjected to body wei...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. J. Abhiram, Laiju M. Philip, Reji Varghese, Jith John Mathew, K. D. John Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Director of Academics and Research, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University 2023-12-01
Series:Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jvas.in/public_html/upload/article_file/article_file_s6kgok.pdf?t=s6kgok
Description
Summary:A study was carried out to identify the prevalence of clinical lameness and associated claw affections in dairy cows using claw health indicators, claw dimensions and locomotion scoring. Hundred postpartum lactating dairy cattle reared under similar managemental conditions were subjected to body weight estimation, body condition scoring (BCS), evaluation of claw health indicators, claw dimension measurement and lameness scoring. Animals with higher score on claw health indicators and locomotion score were subjected to functional hoof trimming. A prevalence of 20 per cent clinical lameness was observed in the present study. Significantly increased claw length and reduced heel height were observed in dairy cows with higher locomotion score while body weight, body condition score and claw health indicators had no significant relationship with locomotion score on statistical analysis. Sole ulcers and white line lesion were identified as the major sole lesions causing clinical lameness in postpartum lactating dairy cattle.
ISSN:0971-0701
2582-0605