Influence of the Housing System on Lameness Prevalence in Organic Dairy Farming

It was the aim of this study to assess the health status regarding lameness in organic dairy farming in Germany. For this purpose, a representative cross-sectional sample of 53 commercial organic dairy herds was investigated using locomotion scoring for lameness prevalence. The average lameness prevalence was 18% (min: 2%, max: 53%) thus underlining its importance also in organic farming. Cubicle housed herds showed a significantly higher lameness prevalence than herds housed in straw yard systems. Swellings of the carpal and tarsal joints were positively correlated with lameness prevalence. However, within cubicle housed herds, there was no significant effect of the stall surface on lameness ...