Identifying risk factors associated with lameness in pasture-based dairy herds
| Autor: | John K. House, A.R. Rabiee, A. A. Gunn, S Ranjbar |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
lameness
040301 veterinary sciences Lameness Animal media_common.quotation_subject Cattle Diseases Biology Pasture 0403 veterinary science Animal science Risk Factors Environmental health Genetics Animals Lactation Pasture based Risk factor media_common geography geography.geographical_feature_category Dairy herds business.industry Australia 0402 animal and dairy science 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences 040201 dairy & animal science pasture Dairying Cross-Sectional Studies risk factor Lameness Agriculture Herd Cattle Female Animal Science and Zoology business Welfare Food Science |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Dairy Science. 99:7495-7505 |
| ISSN: | 0022-0302 |
| DOI: | 10.3168/jds.2016-11142 |
| Popis: | Lameness is a significant welfare concern for dairy farmers and a major contributing economic loss to the dairy industry. Information is limited on environmental and managerial risk factors associated with lameness in Australian dairy herds. The objective of this study was to explore and quantify the environmental and management risk factors associated with lameness in pasture-based dairy herds. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 63 pasture-based dairy herds between 2011 and 2014, where all lactating cows were locomotion scored (scale 1–4) during a single visit. Environmental and management variables, such as length of main track and animal handling practices, were recorded during the visit. The prevalence of lameness was measured for each farm and associated risk factors were analyzed using a Generalized Linear Model, where farm was the unit of analysis. Estimated average prevalence of lameness was 18.9% (range 5 to 44.5%). The prevalence of lameness was associated with the amount of rainfall during the 30 d before the farm assessment, smoothness of concrete surface and available space per cow in the holding yard, and length of feed-pad available per cow. Inappropriate handling of cows on the track (e.g., causing sideways pushing among cows) was also a contributing risk factor to high prevalence of lameness in these dairy herds. The findings of this study suggest that by managing several environmental and farming practices, producers can reduce the prevalence of lameness, leading to improved productivity of their herds. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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