The Majority of Lameness in Dairy Cows is Preventable

Lameness has been identified by dairy farmers in Australia and especially in the South West as one of the important health problems associated with dairy production.

The Western Branch of the Australian Veterinary Association and West Vic Dairy in conjunction with Upjohn and Boehringer Ingelheim recently invited Neil Chesterton, to deliver a series of seminars on lameness. Neil has a particular interest in lame cows. Vets and dairy farmers were stimulated by his practical approach to this serious problem.

What does lameness cost?

    The negative affects of lameness can be categorised as:
  • Reduced production
  • Decreased fertility
  • Cost of treatment
  • Increased rate of culling
  • Time involved in treating and managing lame cows.
  • Increased chance of antibiotic contamination of bulk milk.
  • Animal welfare issues.
In strict dollar terms that the average cost of a lame cow in Australia is $200.

What are the factors that effect lameness incidence?

  1. Track factors
    Construction and design
    Degree of maintenance
    Manner in which cows are moved from the paddock to the shed
  2. Dairy Factors
    Bail feeding
    Yard design
    Abrasiveness of yard surface
    Effect of milker on cow movement
  3. Cow Factors
    Nutrition
    Conformation
    Genetics Rainfall
Chesterton's study found that 40% of the lameness could be explained by the different ways in which cows moved from the paddock to the shed.
He made a number of common sense observations on cow behaviour and movement which help explain why cows get lame.
    Cow Social Behaviour
  • If left to drift at their own pace cows do a number of things.
  • They sort themselves into groups with the dominant cows mostly in the middle and front of the mob and the less dominant cows mostly at the back.
  • Cows avoid touching other cows.
  • They will keep their heads down, accurately picking a safe place to put their front foot.
  • The back feet will go in the same place as the front feet.
  • Cows will tend to follow other cows, often placing their feet in the same places as the one in front.
If cows can walk at their own pace there will be a minimum of lameness.

There are two things which commonly affect this orderly walking pattern of a herd.

  1. Condition of the track.
  2. Patience of the person following the cows.
A poorly maintained track has two effects
  1. Direct: Bad tracks are likely to increase damage to cows feet regardless.
  2. Indirect: Bad tracks slow a herd down, thus increasing the chances that cows will be hurried along by an impatient herdsman.
What signs suggest that Cows are being "Pushed" rather than allowed to "Drift"?
  • Cows at the back of the herd begin to move from one side of the track to the other, rather than follow the cows in front of them.
  • Cows will be seen pushing one another. Drifting cows rarely touch one another.
  • Cows will have their heads raised over the back of others.
  • Cows will shorten their stride.
All of these signs result in unplanned placement of feet and an increased abrasive effect on the hoof.

 



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