Welfare assessment of hoof health in intensively managed dairy cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the welfare of hoof and its predisposing factor in intensively managed dairy cow. A total of 139 dairy cows at 8 dairy farms in the Narsingdi and Chattrogram districts were investigated. The prevalence of different hoof abnormalities and their association with lameness was evaluated in studied cow. The result showed that, un--uniform length of hooves and curled claw were mostly prevalent (35.6%, each) at the studied farms. Moreover, digital dermatitis, heel horn erosion, cock screw hoof, sole ulcer, white line disease, interdigital dermatitis and interdigital hyperplasia were 34.5%, 21.6%, 11.5%, 10.7%, 7.2%, 5.8% and 0.7%, respectively. Lameness was present in 53% cow having sole ulcer. 55%. 20%, 13.8%, 25%, 37.5%, 20%, 100%, 16.3% lameness occurred due to the presence of white line disease, cock screw hoof, interdigital dermatitis, heel erosions, interdigital hyperplasia, curled claw hooves respectively. Lameness was found to be significantly (p<0.001) associated with sole ulcer, interdigital hyperplasia and interdigital dermatitis. This study is concluded that hoof abnormalities are significantly responsible for lameness. If hoof health welfare will be improved at farms, dairy farming will be more sustainable.