Lameness Prevalence and Behavioural Traits in Cubicle Housed Dairy Herds - a Field Study

In the present study, the relationship between the standing behaviour and the prevalence of lameness in commercial dairy herds has been addressed. In total 970 cows out of 17 herds in northwestern Germany housed in standard cubicle barns were locomotion scored and behaviour was individually recorded for 3 h. The average lameness prevalence was 45% (25-58%). Lame animals spent significantly less time feeding and stood longer with the front feet and with four feet in the stalls, respectively. Behaviour of healthy cows in terms of time spent at the feed bunk and standing with four feet in the stalls was significantly correlated with the proportion of moderately/severely lame cows (rs=-0.72 and rs=0.56, respectively). In conclusion, our on-farm data did not confirm a relationship of standing with two feet in the stalls with lameness prevalence under the housing conditions investigated ...