Effect of Lameness (Hoof Disorders) on Productivity of Karan Fries Crossbred Cows

Lameness, a common health problem in crossbred dairy cows, has a major impact on the economics of dairy industry, especially in the form of losses as reduction in milk yield.
The present study was undertaken to observe the effect of lameness on the productive performance (monthly and 305 days milk yield) of Karan Fries crossbred cows. The present study was conducted on 251 lactating Karan Fries cows, maintained at cattle yard, NDRI, Karnal, out of these 96 cows were diagnosed only for lameness while 67 were never diagnosed for any disease throughout a period from Jan 06 to Dec 06. The incidence was highest for the first parity cows (16.34%), cows calved in year 2006, in winter calving cows and also in cows diagnosed for lameness in the first month of lactation.
The effect of non-genetic factors i.e. parity and year of calving in the study was non significant, while the effect of season of calving was statistically significant (p < 0.01) on monthly and 305 days milk yield, winter calvers produced highest monthly as well as 305 days milk (3769.78±171.55 kg), while autumn calvers produced the lowest monthly and 305 days milk (2410.87±218.03 kg).
Effect of lameness on monthly milk yield of 2nd, 3rd and 4th month was statistically significant (p < 0.01), and was also found to be significant (p < 0.05) for 5th and 10th month of lactation. A statistically significant ...