Lameness in Dairy Cattle: Relationships Between Environments, Animal Based Welfare Measures and Locomotion

This study investigated the interaction between herd level lameness, hock swelling and claw overgrowth across 227 dairy herds with different housing systems throughout England and Wales, during 2006 –2007. Each cow was locomotion scored using a four point scale (0 = sound locomotion, 1 = imperfect locomotion, 2 = lame, 3 = severely lame). A herd level lameness prevalence was calculated by the sum of scores 2 and 3. The prevalence and severity of hock swelling and claw overgrowth was determined (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe). The herd size and housing environment of each farm was also recorded. The results indicated that depending on the severity of parameters, significant correlations between hock swelling, claw overgrowth and locomotion existed, reaching r = 0.335, p = < 0.01 (medium claw overgrowth and lame), r = 0.185, p = < 0.01 (medium hock swelling and medium claw overgrowth), and r = 0.15, p = < 0.05 (severe hock swelling and severely lame). The prevalence of lameness increased with increasing herd size (r = 0.239, p = < 0.001). The prevalence of lameness (Z = -3.753, p = < 0.001) and hock swelling (Z = -6.535, p = < 0.001) was reduced in straw yard systems but not absent. There was no difference in claw overgrowth between cubicle and straw yard housing (Z = -0.962, p = n.s). Hock swelling, claw overgrowth and locomotion are associated, reliable and repeatable animal based parameters which should become an integrated part of welfare assessments ...