Reducing Lameness in Organic Dairy Herds by Implementation of Farm-individual Intervention Measures

It was the aim of the present study to investigate the effectiveness of farm-individual intervention measures related to management and housing conditions on lameness reduction. Starting in the winter housing period 2004/05, 43 cubicle housed herds were locomotion scored; housing and management was also assessed. In 20 farms, intervention measures (e.g. improvement of bedding, claw trimming) were suggested and discussed with the farmer. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these intervention measures all herds were re-visited six times in the following two years. The average baseline lameness prevalence (visit 1) was 26% (range 2 - 50%). In the course of the observation period, lameness prevalence decreased to 19%, 17% and 17%, 13%, 15% and 15%, respectively. Intervention farms showed a greater reduction in lameness prevalence after the first year (median D 14.0%, range 33 - 4%) than control farms (median D 4.4%, range 21 - -16%; p=0.000, Mann-Whitney-U) as well as in the summer pasture period 2006 (median D 9.1%, range 18 - 8%, n=20 vs. median D 2.1%, range 17 - -27%, n=23; p=0.006, Mann-Whitney-U) and after the second year of the study (median D 17.6%, range 38 - -1% vs. median D 5.1%, range 28 - -20%, n=21; p=0.001, Mann-Whitney-U). In conclusion, these findings provide evidence for long term improvements on the lameness situation in commercial organic dairy farming in response to farm-individual intervention measures ...