The Effect of Lameness on Feed Intake, Feeding Behaviour, Liveweight Change, Milk Yield and Milk Let Down and Milking Duration of Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle

This study assessed the effect of lameness on yield, milking duration, body condition and live weight. Over a 3 year period a total of 160 multiparous Holstein Friesian dairy cows were selected at random and paired retrospectively according to calving date, milk yield, body condition and live weight. Cows were allocated at 110 days postpartum into two groups, 80 lame (L) and 80 non lame (NL) cows according to the locomotion score (<3 = Non lame, 4 and above = Lame). Data was found to be normally distributed and analysed using ANOVA General linear model. Lame cows had a significantly greater (P<0.001) locomotion score compared with non-lame cows, NL 2.01, L4.47 (sem 0.445). Lame cows had a significantly (P<0.05) lower body condition score (scale 1 to 5), NL 3.24, L 2.87 (sem 0.064), a significantly (P<0.05) lower mean milk yield, NL 42.3, L 38.7 (sem 0.60) and significantly (P<0.05) lower milking duration (mins), NL 7.03, L 6.06, (sem 0.224) compared with non-lame ....