Associating cow characteristics with mobility scores in pasture-based dairy cows

Abstract

The quality of dairy cow mobility can have significant welfare, economic, and environmental consequences that have yet to be extensively quantified for pasturebased systems. The objective of this study was to characterize mobility quality by examining associations between specific mobility scores, claw disorders (both the type and severity), body condition score (BCS), and cow parity. Data were collected for 6,927 cows from 52 pasture-based dairy herds, including mobility score (0 = optimal mobility; 1, 2, or 3 = increasing severities of suboptimal mobility), claw disorder type and severity, BCS, and cow parity. Multinomial logistic regression was used for analysis. The outcome variable was mobility score, and the predictor variables were BCS, type and severity of claw disorders, and cow parity. Three models were run, each with 1 reference category (mobility score 0, 1, or 2). Each model also included claw disorders (overgrown claw, sole hemorrhage, white line disease, sole ulcer, and digital dermatitis), BCS, and cow parity as predictor variables. The presence of most types of claw disorders had odds ratios >1, indicating an increased likelihood of a cow having suboptimal mobility. Low BCS (BCS <3.00) was associated with an increased risk of a cow having suboptimal mobility, and relatively higher parity was also associated with an increased risk of suboptimal mobility. These results confirm an association between claw disorders, BCS, cow parity, and dairy cow mobility score. Therefore, mobility score should be routinely practiced to identify cows with slight deviations from the optimal mobility pattern and to take preventive measures to keep the problem from worsening.

Impact of Nutrients on the Hoof Health in Cattle

“…Lameness is described as a clinical symptom, which is recognizable by a change in locomotion, usually associated with lesions of the pelvic limbs. More than 90% of diagnosed lesions affect the distal part of the limb [ 11 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]; however, the resulting lesions are not only a welfare problem, but they also affect production and profit [ 8 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]. Dairy cows that are affected by limb diseases have lower dry matter intake and milk yield [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], reduced fertility [ 3 , 4 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], and they have an increased risk of culling [ 3 , 4 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , ...…”

“…Lameness of dairy cows is, along with mastitis and reproduction, the third most expensive disease to treat [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 15 , 16 , 20 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. The study by Kaniyamattam et al [ 39 ] reports lameness is second only to mastitis [ 39 ].…”

Grazing Cow Behavior’s Association with Mild and Moderate Lameness

“…Abnormal walking is a symptom of a wide range of painful pathologies affecting limbs of cows [1][2][3]. Lameness, impaired mobility, impaired locomotion, or abnormal gait are ways of referring to abnormal walking.…”

“…Lameness, impaired mobility, impaired locomotion, or abnormal gait are ways of referring to abnormal walking. O'Connor et al [3] defined suboptimal mobility as 'any abnormality to a cow's gait that causes a deviation from the optimal walking pattern of a cow'. Van Nuffel et al, [4] defined 2 of 11 lameness as 'the clinical manifestation of painful disorders, mainly related to the locomotor system, resulting in impaired movement or deviation from normal gait or posture'.…”

“…Lameness is endemic in dairy herds and is a major welfare issue for grazing cows [3,7]. However, lameness is not routinely measured on many farms [1].…”