Some aspects of lameness in dairy herds

Abstract

Excessive wear of the sole of the claws was a common cause of lameness in 2-year-old Friesian heifers. The lameness in older cattle frequently resulted from lesions sited in the interdigital space and in soft tissue structures elsewhere. Lameness was usually noted from 2–12 weeks after calving.

Wear began soon after animals entered the herd and lameness resulted when animals walked long distances in wet conditions and after abrasive materials had accumulated on concrete holding yards. The time spent in yards, and the movement of animals on abrasive surfaces at each yarding, was influenced by the animal's ranking order of dominance and her sequence in the milking order.

Lameness was often followed by delayed oestrus, poor breeding performance, shortened lactation, low yield of milk fat and a sudden drop in body weight. These animals were often culled.

Preventative measures were extremely successful when directed at minimising wear, reducing the period heifers were confined in yards during milking sessions, and upgrading main raceways.