Lameness and Claw Lesions of the Norwegian Red Dairy Cattle Housed in Free Stalls in Relation to Environment,Parity and Stage of Lactation |
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Authors: | ÅM Sogstad T Fjeldaas O Østerås |
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Institution: | 1.Norwegian School of Veterinary Science,Oslo,Norway;2.TINE Norwegian Dairies,Norway |
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Abstract: | Approximately 88% of Norwegian dairy cattle are housed in tie stalls. Free stall housing for all dairy cattle will be implemented
within 20 years. This means that the majority of existing stalls will be rebuilt in the near future. Fifty-seven free stall
herds of the Norwegian Red breed were randomly selected and 1547 cows and 403 heifers were trimmed by 13 claw trimmers during
the late winter and spring of 2002. The claw trimmers had been taught diagnosing and recording of claw lesions. Environment,
management- and feeding routines were also recorded. Fifty-three herds had concrete slatted alleys while 4 had solid concrete.
Thirty-five herds had concrete as a stall base, while 17 had rubber mats, 2 had wood and 3 had deep litter straw beds. The
prevalence of lameness was 1.6% in hind claws. Models for lameness and claw lesions were designed to estimate the influence
of different risk factors and to account for the cluster effects within herd and claw trimmer. Detected risk factors for lameness
were: parity three and above and narrow cubicles; for heel horn erosions: lactation stage around 5–7 months after calving
and solid concrete alleys; for haemorrhages of the white line: lactation stage around 3–5 months after calving and solid concrete
alleys; for haemorrhages of the sole: parity one, lactation stage around 5–7 months after calving and short cubicles, for
white line fissures: slatted concrete alleys; for asymmetrical claws: parities two and above and for corkscrewed claws: solid
concrete alleys. The prevalence of lameness in heifers was low, however 29% had one or more claw lesions. Heifers that were
housed in pens or free stalls had more heel-horn erosions, haemorrhages of the sole and white-line fissures than heifers in
tie stalls. As new free stalls are being built, it is important to optimise the conditions for claw health. |
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