Impact of Lameness on Brush Use in a Loose-Housed Dairy System

Burton, Yuri Ian; Blackie, Nicola

Abstract

This study focused on a group of 49 high-yielding dairy cows (primarily Holstein Friesians) and how their interactions with wall-mounted automated brushes correlated to their mobility (also described as lameness) score (AHDB 0–3 system. Of the 49 animals in the study, 48 were mobility scored with a sample lameness prevalence of 14.6% (n = 22 score 0, n = 19 score 1, n = 6 score 2 and n = 1 score 3 (score 2 and 3 combined due to low numbers identified)). There was no statistical difference in the number of visits between the lame (score 2 and 3) and sound cows (score 0 and 1); however, there was a statistically relevant decrease in the duration that the lame cows spent brushing per visit (sound 91.7 ± 6.06 s compared to lame 63.0 ± 9.22 s, p = 0.0097). No significant difference was identified in how the lame cows interacted with the brushes (i.e., which body part) when compared to the group. The group, in general, showed a significant preference towards interacting with the brush with their head area (63.95% of interactions observed over the 72 h involved the head). In conclusion, monitoring brush use (duration of use per visit) could aid with the identification of clinically lame animals.

Citation

Burton, Y. I., & Blackie, N. (2024). Impact of Lameness on Brush Use in a Loose-Housed Dairy System. Ruminants, 4(3), 375-386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ruminants4030027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 30, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 2, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 2, 2024
• Deposit Date: Aug 21, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 22, 2024
• Journal: Ruminants
• Print ISSN: 2673-933X
• Electronic ISSN: 2673-933X
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 375-386
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ruminants4030027