Effect of hoof trimming intervention on behavior in dairy Lame Cows

Abstract

Hoof lesions and lameness in cattle is currently a serious problem in the dairy industry and significantly affects the health and welfare of animals. High milk yield has been associated with lameness and claw lesions. It was found that 87.5% of lame animals were suffered from claw lesions and hoof lesions were present in all the cows having lameness. Hoof trimming (HT) is performed to prevent hoof lesions and improve gait by correction and maintenance of the hoof symmetry and shape. Lameness caused by hoof disorders can be treated by correct hoof trimming. The aim of this study was to know the behaviour of dairy cattle before and after hoof trimming. In this study twenty lame cows were selected and lameness index score was given to them (0-5 score). Care was taken to ensure that feed was provided at same levels throughout the study period and to nullify any effects of feed on lameness.Different behaviour postures or patterns were recorded for a period of 3-5 hr per day for a period of 7 days to prior week of HT and after HT visually. Dairy cows showed 38 out of 46 total patterns, of which 11 were more commonly observed (MCO), 10 were commonly observed (CO), 8 were rarely observed (RO), 9 were very rarely observed (VRO) and 8 patterns were not observed (NO) before HT and after HT dairy cows showed 36 out of 46 total patterns, of which 13 were more commonly observed (MCO), 9 were commonly observed (CO), 6 were rarely observed (RO), 8 were very rarely observed (VRO) and 10 patterns were not observed (NO) at all. From this study it was concluded that the hoof trimming intervention has an immediate effect on production performance of dairy cows and lameness condition.