Cow- and farm-level risk factors for lameness on dairy farms with automated milking systems

Journal of Dairy Science

Volume 99, Issue 5, 1 May 2016, Pages 3732-3743

  (Article)

Westin, R.^ab , 

Vaughan, A.^a, 

de Passillé, A.M.^a, 

DeVries, T.J.^c, 

Pajor, E.A.^d, 

Pellerin, D.^e, 

Siegford, J.M.^f, 

Witaifi, A.^f, 

Vasseur, E.^g, 

Rushen, J.^a

 

^a  UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Agassiz, BC, Canada
^b  Department of Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden

View additional affiliations

View references (51)

Abstract

Lameness is a major concern to animal health and welfare within the dairy industry. Our objectives were to describe the prevalence of lameness in high-producing cows on farms with automated milking systems (AMS) and to identify the main risk factors for lameness at the animal and farm level. We visited 36 AMS farms across Canada and Michigan. Farm-level factors related to stall design, bedding use, flooring, and stocking rates were recorded by trained observers. Cows were scored for lameness, leg injuries, body condition (BCS), and body size (hip width and rump height; n = 1,378; 25-40 cows/farm). Mean herd prevalence of clinical lameness was 15% (range = 2.5-46%). Stall width relative to cow size and parity was found to be the most important factor associated with lameness. Not fitting the average stall width increased the odds of being lame 3.7 times in primiparous cows. A narrow feed alley [<430 cm; odds ratio (OR) = 1.9], obstructed lunge space (OR = 1.7), a low BCS (OR = 2.1 for BCS ≤2.25 compared with BCS 2.75-3.0), and presence of hock lesions (OR = 1.6) were also identified as important risk factors for lameness. Only 1 of 36 farms had stalls of adequate width and length for the cows on their farm. For lameness prevention, it can be concluded that more emphasis needs be placed on either building stalls of appropriate width or selecting for smaller-framed cows that fit the existing stalls. © 2016 American Dairy Science Association.

Author keywords

Animal welfare; Automated milking systems; Lameness prevalence; Stall design

ISSN: 00220302Source Type: Journal Original language: English

DOI: 10.3168/jds.2015-10414Document Type: Article

Publisher: Elsevier Inc.

References (51)

View in search results format

• Page
 
• • Export |
  • Print |
  • E-mail |
  • Create bibliography

• 
  1

  Anderson, N.
  (2007) Free Stall Dimensions. Infosheet - Livestock Technology
  Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Fergus, Ontario, Canada
  

  •  
• 
  2

  Bach, A., Dinarés, M., Devant, M., Carré, X.

  Associations between lameness and production, feeding and milking attendance of Holstein cows milked with an automatic milking system
  (2007) Journal of Dairy Research, 74 (1), pp. 40-46. Cited 33 times.
  doi: 10.1017/S0022029906002184
  
• 
  3

  Barker, Z.E., Leach, K.A., Whay, H.R., Bell, N.J., Main, D.C.J.

  Assessment of lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in dairy herds in England and Wales
  (2010) Journal of Dairy Science, 93 (3), pp. 932-941. Cited 89 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2009-2309
  
• 
  4

  Bell, N.J., Bell, M.J., Knowles, T.G., Whay, H.R., Main, D.J., Webster, A.J.F.

  The development, implementation and testing of a lameness control programme based on HACCP principles and designed for heifers on dairy farms
  (2009) Veterinary Journal, 180 (2), pp. 178-188. Cited 59 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.05.020
  
• 
  5

  Bicalho, R.C., Machado, V.S., Caixeta, L.S.

  Lameness in dairy cattle: A debilitating disease or a disease of debilitated cattle? A cross-sectional study of lameness prevalence and thickness of the digital cushion
  (2009) Journal of Dairy Science, 92 (7), pp. 3175-3184. Cited 58 times.
  http://jds.fass.org/cgi/reprint/92/7/3175
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2008-1827
  
• 
  6

  Bicalho, R.C., Oikonomou, G.

  Control and prevention of lameness associated with claw lesions in dairy cows
  (2013) Livestock Science, 156 (1-3), pp. 96-105. Cited 14 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.06.007
  
• 
  7

  Borderas, T.F., Fournier, A., Rushen, J., De Passillé, A.M.B.

  Effect of lameness on dairy cows' visits to automatic milking systems
  (2008) Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 88 (1), pp. 1-8. Cited 27 times.
  
• 
  8

  Brenninkmeyer, C., Dippel, S., Brinkmann, J., March, S., Winckler, C., Knierim, U.

  Hock lesion epidemiology in cubicle housed dairy cows across two breeds, farming systems and countries
  (2013) Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 109 (3-4), pp. 236-245. Cited 12 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.10.014
  
• 
  9

  Ceballos, A., Sanderson, D., Rushen, J., Weary, D.M.

  Improving stall design: Use of 3-d kinematics to measure space use by dairy cows when lying down
  (2004) Journal of Dairy Science, 87 (7), pp. 2042-2050. Cited 19 times.
  
• 
  10

  Chapinal, N., Barrientos, A.K., von Keyserlingk, M.A.G., Galo, E., Weary, D.M.

  Herd-level risk factors for lameness in freestall farms in the northeastern United States and California
  (2013) Journal of Dairy Science, 96 (1), pp. 318-328. Cited 22 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2012-5940
  
• 
  11

  Charlton, G.L., Bouffard, V., Gibbons, J., Vasseur, E., Haley, D.B., Pellerin, D., Rushen, J., (...), de Passillé, A.M.

  Can automated measures of lying time help assess lameness and leg lesions on tie-stall dairy farms?
  (2015) Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Cited 4 times.
  www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/5/0/3/3/0/1
  doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.02.011
  
• 
  12

  Cook, N.B.
  (2006) Footbath alternatives. Cited 2 times.
  Accessed May 19, 2015
  http://http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/fapmtools/6lame/Footbath_Alternatives.pdf
  

  •  
• 
  13

  Cook, N.B., Nordlund, K.V.

  The influence of the environment on dairy cow behavior, claw health and herd lameness dynamics
  (2009) Veterinary Journal, 179 (3), pp. 360-369. Cited 78 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.09.016
  
• 
  14

  Deming, J.A., Bergeron, R., Leslie, K.E., DeVries, T.J.

  Associations of housing, management, milking activity, and standing and lying behavior of dairy cows milked in automatic systems
  (2013) Journal of Dairy Science, 96 (1), pp. 344-351. Cited 12 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2012-5985
  
• 
  15

  (2009) Code of practices for the care and handling of dairy cattle. Cited 6 times.
  Dairy Farmers of Canada, Ottawa, Ontarioa, Canada. Accessed May 10, 2015
  http://http://www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice
  

  •  
• 
  16

  (1996) Body Condition Scoring. Bulletin AI 8478, Rev. 9/96. Cited 3 times.
  Elanco Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN
  

  •  
• 
  17

  Ferguson, J.D., Galligan, D.T., Thomsen, N.

  Principal descriptors of body condition score in Holstein cows.
  (1994) Journal of dairy science, 77 (9), pp. 2695-2703. Cited 513 times.
  
• 
  18

  Flower, F.C., Weary, D.M.

  Effect of hoof pathologies on subjective assessments of dairy cow gait
  (2006) Journal of Dairy Science, 89 (1), pp. 139-146. Cited 156 times.
  
• 
  19

  Fregonesi, J.A., Leaver, J.D.

  Influence of space allowance and milk yield level on behaviour, performance and health of dairy cows housed in strawyard and cubicle systems
  (2002) Livestock Production Science, 78 (3), pp. 245-257. Cited 56 times.
  doi: 10.1016/S0301-6226(02)00097-0
  
• 
  20

  Fregonesi, J.A., Tucker, C.B., Weary, D.M.

  Overstocking reduces lying time in dairy cows
  (2007) Journal of Dairy Science, 90 (7), pp. 3349-3354. Cited 82 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2006-794
  
• 
  21

  Gibbons, J., Vasseur, E., Rushen, J., De Passillé, A.M.

  A training programme to ensure high repeatability of injury scoring of dairy cows
  (2012) Animal Welfare, 21 (3), pp. 379-388. Cited 15 times.
  http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/ufaw/09627286/v21n3/s11.pdf?expires=1343670417&=69874771&titleid=75000207&accname=Elsevier+BV&checksum=FB31E7EC24AB4921F27D757BD470FC63
  doi: 10.7120/09627286.21.3.379
  
• 
  22

  Gomez, A., Cook, N.B.

  Time budgets of lactating dairy cattle in commercial freestall herds
  (2010) Journal of Dairy Science, 93 (12), pp. 5772-5781. Cited 45 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2010-3436
  
• 
  23

  Green, L.E., Huxley, J.N., Banks, C., Green, M.J.

  Temporal associations between low body condition, lameness and milk yield in a UK dairy herd
  (2014) Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 113 (1), pp. 63-71. Cited 13 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.10.009
  
• 
  24

  Halachmi, I.

  Simulating the hierarchical order and cow queue length in an automatic milking system
  (2009) Biosystems Engineering, 102 (4), pp. 453-460. Cited 11 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2009.01.010
  
• 
  25

  Helmreich, S., Hauser, R., Jungbluth, T., Wechsler, B., Gygax, L.

  Time-budget constraints for cows with high milking frequency on farms with automatic milking systems
  (2014) Livestock Science, 167 (1), pp. 315-322. Cited 3 times.
  http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/706547/description#description
  doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.06.014
  
• 
  26

  Hillerton, J.E., Dearing, J., Dale, J., Poelarends, J.J., Neijenhuis, F., Sampimon, O.C., Miltenburg, J.D.H.M., (...), Fossing, C.
  Impact of automatic milking on animal health
  (2004) Automatic Milking-A Better Understanding, pp. 125-134.
  Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, the Netherlands, A. Meijering, H. Hogeveen, C. Koning (Eds.)
  

  •  
• 
  27

  Hohenbrink, S., Meinecke-Tillmann, S.

  Influence of social dominance on the secondary sex ratio and factors affecting hierarchy in Holstein dairy cows
  (2012) Journal of Dairy Science, 95 (10), pp. 5694-5701. Cited 6 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-5281
  
• 
  28

  Huxley, J.N.

  Impact of lameness and claw lesions in cows on health and production
  (2013) Livestock Science, 156 (1-3), pp. 64-70. Cited 15 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.06.012
  
• 
  29

  Kester, E., Holzhauer, M., Frankena, K.

  A descriptive review of the prevalence and risk factors of hock lesions in dairy cows
  (2014) Veterinary Journal, 202 (2), pp. 222-228. Cited 2 times.
  http://www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/6/2/3/0/7/7/index.htt
  doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.07.004
  
• 
  30

  Klaas, I.C., Rousing, T., Fossing, C., Hindhede, J., Sørensen, J.T.

  Is lameness a welfare problem in dairy farms with automatic milking systems?
  (2003) Animal Welfare, 12 (4), pp. 599-603. Cited 29 times.
  
• 
  31

  Leonard, F.C., O'Connell, J.M., O'Farrell, K.J.

  Effect of overcrowding on claw health in first-calved friesian heifers
  (1996) British Veterinary Journal, 152 (4), pp. 459-472. Cited 61 times.
  
• 
  32

  Lexer, D., Hagen, K., Palme, R., Troxler, J., Waiblinger, S.

  Time budgets and adrenocortical activity of cows milked in a robot or a milking parlour: Interrelationships and influence of social rank
  (2009) Animal Welfare, 18 (1), pp. 73-80. Cited 11 times.
  
• 
  33

  Lim, P.Y., Huxley, J.N., Willshire, J.A., Green, M.J., Othman, A.R., Kaler, J.

  Unravelling the temporal association between lameness and body condition score in dairy cattle using a multistate modelling approach
  (2015) Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 118 (4), pp. 370-377. Cited 2 times.
  www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/5/0/3/3/1/5/index.htt
  doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.12.015
  
• 
  34

  Melin, M., Hermans, G.G.N., Pettersson, G., Wiktorsson, H.

  Cow traffic in relation to social rank and motivation of cows in an automatic milking system with control gates and an open waiting area
  (2006) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 96 (3-4), pp. 201-214. Cited 24 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2005.06.013
  
• 
  35

  Menke, C., Waiblinger, S., Fölsch, D.W., Wiepkema, P.R.

  Social behaviour and injuries of horned cows in loose housing systems
  (1999) Animal Welfare, 8 (3), pp. 243-258. Cited 35 times.
  
• 
  36

  Miguel-Pacheco, G.G., Kaler, J., Remnant, J., Cheyne, L., Abbott, C., French, A.P., Pridmore, T.P., (...), Huxley, J.N.

  Behavioural changes in dairy cows with lameness in an automatic milking system
  (2014) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 150, pp. 1-8. Cited 6 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.11.003
  
• 
  37

  Miller, K., Wood-Gush, D.G.M.
  Some effects of housing on the social behaviour of dairy cows
  (1991) Anim. Sci., 53, pp. 271-278.
  http://dx.doi.org.scopeesprx.elsevier.com/10.1017/S0003356100020262
  

  •  
• 
  38

  Nordlund, K., Cook, N.B.
  A flowchart for evaluating dairy cow freestalls
  (2003) Bov. Pract., 37, pp. 89-96.
  

  •  
• 
  39

  Pérez-Cabal, M.A., Alenda, R.

  Clinical lameness and risk factors in a Spanish Holstein population
  (2014) Livestock Science, 164 (1), pp. 168-174. Cited 2 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.03.012
  
• 
  40

  Randall, L.V., Green, M.J., Chagunda, M.G.G., Mason, C., Archer, S.C., Green, L.E., Huxley, J.N.

  Low body condition predisposes cattle to lameness: An 8-year study of one dairy herd
  (2015) Journal of Dairy Science, 98 (6), pp. 3766-3777. Cited 4 times.
  http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/721317/description#description
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2014-8863
  
• 
  41

  Sarjokari, K., Kaustell, K.O., Hurme, T., Kivinen, T., Peltoniemi, O.A.T., Saloniemi, H., Rajala-Schultz, P.J.

  Prevalence and risk factors for lameness in insulated free stall barns in Finland
  (2013) Livestock Science, 156 (1-3), pp. 44-52. Cited 4 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.06.010
  
• 
  42

  Solano, L., Barkema, H.W., Pajor, E.A., Mason, S., LeBlanc, S.J., Zaffino Heyerhoff, J.C., Nash, C.G.R., (...), Orsel, K.

  Prevalence of lameness and associated risk factors in Canadian Holstein-Friesian cows housed in freestall barns
  (2015) Journal of Dairy Science, 98 (10), art. no. 73831, pp. 6978-6991. Cited 2 times.
  http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/721317/description#description
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2015-9652
  
• 
  43

  Tucker, C.B., Weary, D.M., Fraser, D.

  Free-stall dimensions: Effects on preference and stall usage
  (2004) Journal of Dairy Science, 87 (5), pp. 1208-1216. Cited 72 times.
  
• 
  44

  (2015) L'évolution de la production laitière Québécoise 2014
  Quebec. Accessed Aug. 21, 2015.
  http://http://www.valacta.com/FR/Nos-publications/Documents/%C3%89VOLUTION%20LAITI%C3%88RE/%C3%89volution%202014_FINAL.pdf
  

  •  
• 
  45

  van Gastelen, S., Westerlaan, B., Houwers, D.J., van Eerdenburg, F.J.C.M.

  A study on cow comfort and risk for lameness and mastitis in relation to different types of bedding materials
  (2011) Journal of Dairy Science, 94 (10), pp. 4878-4888. Cited 15 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2010-4019
  
• 
  46

  Vasseur, E., Gibbons, J., Rushen, J., de Passillé, A.M.

  Development and implementation of a training program to ensure high repeatability of body condition scoring of dairy cows
  (2013) Journal of Dairy Science. Cited 13 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2012-6359
  
• 
  47

  Vasseur, E., Gibbons, J., Rushen, J., Pellerin, D., Pajor, E., Lefebvre, D., de Passillé, A.M.

  An assessment tool to help producers improve cow comfort on their farms
  (2015) Journal of Dairy Science, 98 (1), pp. 698-708. Cited 5 times.
  http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/721317/description#description
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2014-8224
  
• 
  48

  Vosika, B., Lexer, D., Stanek, C., Troxler, J., Waiblinger, S.
  The influence of an automatic milking system on claw health and lameness of dairy cows
  (2004) Automatic Milking-A Better Understanding, pp. 155-160. Cited 3 times.
  Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, the Netherlands, A. Meijering, H. Hogeveen, C. Koning (Eds.)
  

  •  
• 
  49

  Westin, R., Vaughan, A., de Passillé, A.M., DeVries, T.J., Pajor, E.A., Pellerin, D., Siegford, J.M., (...), Rushen, J.

  Lying times of lactating cows on dairy farms with automatic milking systems and the relation to lameness, leg lesions, and body condition score
  (2016) Journal of Dairy Science, 99 (1), pp. 551-561.
  http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/721317/description#description
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2015-9737
  
• 
  50

  Wildman, E.E., Jones, G.M., Wagner, P.E., Boman, R.L., Troutt, H.F., Lesch, T.N.
  A dairy cow body condition scoring system and its relationship to selected production characteristics
  (1982) J. Dairy Sci., 65, pp. 495-501. Cited 2 times.
  http://dx.doi.org.scopeesprx.elsevier.com/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(82)82223-6
  

  •  
• 
  51

  Zaffino Heyerhoff, J.C., LeBlanc, S.J., DeVries, T.J., Nash, C.G.R., Gibbons, J., Orsel, K., Barkema, H.W., (...), Haley, D.B.

  Prevalence of and factors associated with hock, knee, and neck injuries on dairy cows in freestall housing in Canada
  (2014) Journal of Dairy Science, 97 (1), pp. 173-184. Cited 7 times.
  doi: 10.3168/jds.2012-6367
  

  Westin, R.; UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Canada; email:rebecka.westin@slu.se
© Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.