Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows
Herd-level risk factors related to the cow’s environment have been associated with lameness. Uncomfortable stall surface and inadequate depth of bedding as well as abrasive alley way surface are contributing factors to increased levels of lameness. Access to pasture has been found as havin...
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MDPI AG
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/5/204 |
| _version_ | 1818410306128314368 |
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| author | Joris R. Somers Jon N. Huxley Michael L. Doherty Luke E. O’Grady |
| author_facet | Joris R. Somers Jon N. Huxley Michael L. Doherty Luke E. O’Grady |
| author_sort | Joris R. Somers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Herd-level risk factors related to the cow’s environment have been associated with lameness. Uncomfortable stall surface and inadequate depth of bedding as well as abrasive alley way surface are contributing factors to increased levels of lameness. Access to pasture has been found as having a beneficial effect on cows’ locomotion. However, dairy cattle managed under grazing conditions are exposed to a different set of risk factors for lameness, mainly associated with cow tracks. Cow-based risk factors for lameness are not as clearly defined as the herd level risk factors. The objective of the present study was to use routine herd health monitoring data to identify cow-based risk factors for lameness and utilise this information to indicate cows at risk of developing lameness in the first 150 days of lactation. Lameness data were gathered from 10 pasture-based dairy herds. A total of 1715 cows were monitored, of which 1675 cows were available for analysis. Associations between lameness status and potential cow-level risk factors were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Parity 3 and 4 + cows showed odd ratios (OR’s) for lameness of 3.92 and 8.60 respectively (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.46−6.24; 5.68−13.0). Maximum loss of Body condition score (BCS) after calving exhibits OR’s for lameness of 1.49 (95% CI 1.08−2.04) if cows lost 0.5 in BCS after calving and 2.26 (95% CI 1.30−3.95) for cows losing more than 0.5 BCS. Animals calving in BCS 3.25 and ≥ 3.5 had correlating OR’s of 0.54 (95% CI 0.34−0.87) and 0.33 (95% CI 0.16−0.65) for being lame compared to cows calving with BCS ≤ 2.75. Data gathered as part of herd health monitoring can be used in conjunction with lameness records to identify shortcomings in lameness management. Findings and recommendations on lameness management can be formulated from readily available information on cow-based risk factors for lameness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:13:25Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:13:25Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3f46cf1f44a4a9bb621aee0c9db7d2b2022-12-21T23:06:57ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-04-019520410.3390/ani9050204ani9050204Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy CowsJoris R. Somers0Jon N. Huxley1Michael L. Doherty2Luke E. O’Grady3School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04W6F6 Dublin, IrelandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04W6F6 Dublin, IrelandSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04W6F6 Dublin, IrelandHerd-level risk factors related to the cow’s environment have been associated with lameness. Uncomfortable stall surface and inadequate depth of bedding as well as abrasive alley way surface are contributing factors to increased levels of lameness. Access to pasture has been found as having a beneficial effect on cows’ locomotion. However, dairy cattle managed under grazing conditions are exposed to a different set of risk factors for lameness, mainly associated with cow tracks. Cow-based risk factors for lameness are not as clearly defined as the herd level risk factors. The objective of the present study was to use routine herd health monitoring data to identify cow-based risk factors for lameness and utilise this information to indicate cows at risk of developing lameness in the first 150 days of lactation. Lameness data were gathered from 10 pasture-based dairy herds. A total of 1715 cows were monitored, of which 1675 cows were available for analysis. Associations between lameness status and potential cow-level risk factors were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Parity 3 and 4 + cows showed odd ratios (OR’s) for lameness of 3.92 and 8.60 respectively (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.46−6.24; 5.68−13.0). Maximum loss of Body condition score (BCS) after calving exhibits OR’s for lameness of 1.49 (95% CI 1.08−2.04) if cows lost 0.5 in BCS after calving and 2.26 (95% CI 1.30−3.95) for cows losing more than 0.5 BCS. Animals calving in BCS 3.25 and ≥ 3.5 had correlating OR’s of 0.54 (95% CI 0.34−0.87) and 0.33 (95% CI 0.16−0.65) for being lame compared to cows calving with BCS ≤ 2.75. Data gathered as part of herd health monitoring can be used in conjunction with lameness records to identify shortcomings in lameness management. Findings and recommendations on lameness management can be formulated from readily available information on cow-based risk factors for lameness.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/5/204dairy cowlamenessrisk factorspastureseasonal |
| spellingShingle | Joris R. Somers Jon N. Huxley Michael L. Doherty Luke E. O’Grady Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows Animals dairy cow lameness risk factors pasture seasonal |
| title | Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows |
| title_full | Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows |
| title_fullStr | Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows |
| title_short | Routine Herd Health Data as Cow-Based Risk Factors Associated with Lameness in Pasture-Based, Spring Calving Irish Dairy Cows |
| title_sort | routine herd health data as cow based risk factors associated with lameness in pasture based spring calving irish dairy cows |
| topic | dairy cow lameness risk factors pasture seasonal |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/5/204 |
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