Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming

Archer, Simon C.; Newsome, Reuben; Dibble, Harry; Sturrock, Craig J.; Chagunda, M. G. G.; Mason, Colin; Huxley, J.N.

doi:10.1136/vr.103197

Cited by 34 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Following restraining, the rear claw was cleaned and debris removed for clear visualization of the claw zones. Claw length was assessed using a claw check and claw angles above 45° were considered overgrown (Archer et al 2015 ). Claw lesions were grouped into those affecting the hoof skin and claw horn lesions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia

Sadiq

Ramanoon

Mansor

et al. 2017

Trop Anim Health Prod

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The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia. The sample population was 251 lactating cows from 8 farms assessed for lameness and claw lesions by locomotion scoring and claw assessment respectively while specific animal-based measures were hypothesized as cow-level risk factors. The Wilcoxon rank test and logistic regression were applied to assess the prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and association with potential risk factors, respectively. The prevalence of lameness was 19.1% ranging from 10.0 to 33.3% while 31.1% of cows had claw lesions and ranged from 16.3–40%. Claw lesions were recorded in 87.5% of the lame cows with highest being those affected with sole lesions (54.2%) and white line disease (61.2%). Overall, the occurrence of overgrown claws, sole lesions, white line disease, and digital dermatitis were 37, 18.2, 10.9, and 8.3%, respectively. More than one claw lesion per cow was present in 71.8% of the affected cows. Lameness was associated with early lactation (OR = 3.3; 95% CI 2–7), injured hocks (OR = 4.8; 95% CI 5-17), and dirty legs hygiene (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.3-6.2), whereas presence of claw lesions was associated with dirty legs hygiene (OR = 4.7; 95% CI 4-11) and overgrown claw (OR = 2.7; 95% CI 1.4-5.3). To reduce the prevalence of lameness, farmers need to improve the management of cows with overgrown claw, injured hocks, and cleanliness by establishing routine claw trimming and efficient stall design.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia

Sadiq

Ramanoon

Mansor

et al. 2017

Trop Anim Health Prod

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“…Hoof lesion type and lesion severity were recorded at intervention (HTI cows) and from cows identified as lame (CON and HTI) by farm employees during the 6 wk following intervention. Diagnosis of thin soles was based on sole horn flexibility after thumb pressure or toe length <7.5 mm from coronary band (van Amstel et al, 2002;Archer et al, 2015). Other lesions were recorded following definitions of the ICAR Claw Health Atlas (ICAR Working Group, 2015).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the effect size in herd A was relevant at 2 wk post-intervention (HTI: 0.65; CON: 0.41), it was trivial at 6 wk (HTI: 0.72; CON: 0.69). Studies have questioned the efficacy of current hoof-trimming techniques based on claw weight-bearing distribution (van der Tol et al, 2004) and measurements of dissected claws (Nuss and Paulus, 2006;Archer et al, 2015). More recently, researchers have shown that functional hoof trimming can have detrimental and long-term effects on gait (Van Hertem et al, 2014;Mahendran et al, 2017).…”

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Effect of hoof trimmer intervention in moderately lame cows on lameness progression and milk yield

García-Muñoz

Singh

Leonardi

et al. 2017

Journal of Dairy Science

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hoof trimmer intervention (HTI) in moderately lame cows on lameness progression and milk yield. Two freestall Holstein herds were enrolled. Cows were milked 2 (herd A: 2,374 cows) or 3 (herd B: 2,800 cows) times a day. Within each dairy, moderately lame cows [locomotion score (LS) = 3 on a 5-point scale] were randomly assigned to control group (CON; herd A = 66, herd B = 84) or treatment group (HTI; evaluated and treated by the hoof trimmer under researchers' supervision; herd A = 73; herd B = 75). Enrollment criteria were <350 d in milk, <180 d pregnant, >10 kg/d of milk yield, not selected for therapeutic trimming 2 mo before enrollment, and >14 observations of daily milk yield during the study period. Biweekly lameness scoring (LS ≤2, LS = 3, LS ≥4) was conducted up to 6 wk post-intervention. Lesion type and severity records were collected at intervention from HTI cows and up to 6 wk post-intervention from all enrolled cows identified as lame by farm employees. Daily milk yield data were collected from -1 to 6 wk relative to intervention using Afifarm (Afimilk Ltd., Kibbutz Afikim, Israel) records. No treatment effect was detected on the predicted probability of locomotion score, but the predicted probability of LS ≥3 decreased over time in herd B, whereas in herd A, it initially decreased but later increased. A tendency for a treatment by time interaction was observed in herd A; at 2 wk post-intervention, the predicted probability for LS ≥3 was higher for HTI (0.69) than for CON (0.43), but similar at 4 wk (0.41 HTI, 0.49 CON) and 6 wk (0.77 HTI, 0.73 CON). At intervention, most study cows had no lesions (41.2%), sole hemorrhages (28.4%), thin soles (8.8%), or vertical fissure (6.8%). During the 6 wk following intervention, a similar proportion of cows were identified as lame in CON (8.7%) and HTI (6.7%) groups. In herd A, milk yield (least squares means ± standard error) was similar for CON (42.0 ± 0.77 kg/d) and HTI (42.3 ± 0.75 kg/d) cows, whereas in herd B, it tended to be lower for HTI (43.7 ± 0.61 kg/d) than for CON (45.2 ± 0.59 kg/d) cows. A significant effect of time was detected on both dairies, with milk yield decreasing over the study period. In our study, implementing HTI on moderately lame cows resulted in no improvement in gait or milk yield. The low presence of severe lesions amenable to therapy may partially explain our findings.

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“…All measures based on the Welfare Quality assessment protocol for cattle[16], except hoof overgrowth that was adapted from Archer et al[17].Behavioral variables were assessed in recorded videos. Three barns (one barn per treatment) were filmed using two static video cameras (model IP66, Circontrol, Terrassa, Spain) per barn and two previously installed digital video recorders (model VDVR-4NX, Circontrol, Terrassa, Spain).…”

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Impacts of Compost Bedded Pack Barns on the Welfare and Comfort of Dairy Cows

Fernández

Mainau

Manteca

et al. 2020

Animals

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Three loose housing systems for lactating cows (compost bedded pack, CBP; conventional bedded pack, BP; and freestalls, FS) were assessed on one farm in terms of cow behavior and welfare. An on-farm welfare assessment based on the Welfare Quality protocols was used four times every three months on 757 cows. Video recordings taken twice over four days were used to assess behavior patterns at resting areas. Cows in CBP and BP were dirtier than those in FS (p < 0.0001). Fewer integument alterations were recorded for CBP and BP than FS (p < 0.001). Cows in BP were quicker to lie down and stand up compared to those in CBP or FS (p < 0.001). Percentages of cows needing more attempts before rising were higher for FS (p < 0.01). However, a higher frequency of kneeling was observed in CBP (p = 0.033). A lower percentage of cows lying in the resting area was recorded for FS (56%) than CBP or BP (97 or 84%, respectively, p < 0.05). Overall, in this study, cows kept in bedded pack barns were dirtier but had fewer integument alterations and spent more time lying down in the resting area than cows housed in freestalls.

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Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming

Cited by 34 publications

References 18 publications

Prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia

Prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia

Effect of hoof trimmer intervention in moderately lame cows on lameness progression and milk yield

Impacts of Compost Bedded Pack Barns on the Welfare and Comfort of Dairy Cows

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