Genetic Achievements in Claw Health Based on Claw Trimmers Reports from Maintenance Trimming

It is well known that good management, feeding and housing promote good claw health and that higher producing cows and Holsteins in comparison to other breeds have a higher risk for lameness and sole ulcers. However, can claw health be improved in a longer perspective by genetic achievements under high performing conditions?
In order to get detailed data to appreciate the claw health in Swedish dairy cows a claw recording system for professional claw trimmers was developed and data was recorded. Data was entered in the Swedish dairy cow data base and used for genetic studies as well as for evaluation of Swedish AI-bulls. In total about 170 000 trimmings from Swedish Red (SR) and Swedish Holsteins (SH) were used. Genetic parameters and repeatability between lactations were estimated for dermatitis, heel horn erosion, sole haemorrhage and sole ulcer. Univariate analyses were used to estimate the heritability and bivariate analysis was used to estimate correlations between lactations ...