scholarly journals Study of animal welfare status in dairy cow herds in Hungary – looking for causes of lameness

2012 ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
Richard Gudaj ◽  
István Komlósi ◽  
Endre Brydl
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Prevention Plan

In the last 20–30 years lameness in cattle was found to be third the most influential disease next to mastitis and reproduction disorders. Studies have been established to explore reasons for lameness and prevention. The problem with more robust prevention plans is that knowledge and research evidence is not strong enough to run an effective prevention plan. The aim of the research is to look for reasons of lameness by observing number of cows on 6 farms during 2 lactations. Performance data will be put together to body condition score (BCS) and lameness scores. Other examination is focused on monitoring of 40 farms. This part of the project is more related to extension, collecting and sharing solutions for decreasing lameness. Producers are advised what kind of measures are possible to reduce occurrence of lameness. Effectiveness of those actions will be measured at the end of the study. The first preliminary results show lack in almost all preventive measures needed to be taken in minimising lameness. Those areas are related to poor facilities, lack of straw, problems with labour and basic management.

scholarly journals Study of animal welfare status in dairy cow herds in Hungary – looking for causes of lameness

2011 ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Richard Gudaj ◽  
István Komlósi ◽  
Endre Brydl
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Prevention Plan

In the last 20-30 years, lameness in cattle was found to be third the most influential disease next to mastitis and reproduction disorders. Studies have been established to explore reasons for lameness and prevention. The problem with more robust prevention plans is that knowledge and research evidence is not strong enough to run an effective prevention plan. The aim of the research is to look for reasons of lameness by observing number of cows on 6 farms during 2 lactations. Performance data will be put together to body condition score (BCS) and lameness scores. Other examination is focused on monitoring of 40 farms. This part of the project is more related to extension, collecting and sharing solutions for decreasing lameness. Producers are advised what kind of measures are possible to reduce occurrence of lameness. Effectiveness of those actions will be measured at the end of the study. The first preliminary results show lack in almost all preventive measures needed to be taken in minimizing lameness. Those areas are related to poor facilities, lack of straw, problems with labor and basic management.

scholarly journals Embryonic mortality in Holstein cows on one’s farm

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Puklová ◽  
Jan Šubrt ◽  
Dušan Skrip ◽  
Radek Filipčík
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Embryonic Mortality ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Positive Effect

The objective of our research was to evaluate the effect of some factors on the embryonic mortality of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in a herd. Monitoring was conducted in the course of three years (2006–2009) at a level of (9330–8970) kg/dairy cow per lactation. We monitored the reproduction parameters of 209 dairy cows (1st to 8th lactation). Ultrasonography was used to diagnose gravidity, and/or embryonic mortality, in each cow 6 times, at regular 4-day intervals between days 22 and 42 after insemination. We analysed the effect of 3 factors on embryonic mortality: age, body condition score and season of the year at the time of insemination. Embryonic mortality relative to the age of the female was significantly the lowest (20.69 %) in cows aged 42 to 47 months (3.5–3.9 years); high embryonic mortality (45.46 %) was recorded in the youngest females of 24 to 29 months of age (2.0–2.4 years). The results indicated that the body condition score of the cow at the time of insemination had a statistically significant (P > 0.01) effect on embryonic mortality (EM). Embryonic mortality was the lowest when the body condition of the cow was “ideal”, i.e. 5 points of the BCS (at the most 9 points). The season of the year when insemination was carried out had a positive effect on embryonic mortality.

Dairy cow performance in relation to the combination of cow height and condition score

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 15-15
Author(s):  
G. E. Pollott ◽  
H. F. Wicks ◽  
J. D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
Average Body ◽  
Friesian Cows

The increased use of Holstein genes in the British dairy herd led to the replacement of Friesian cows with the taller, thinner Holstein type. The objective of this study was to use measurements of cow height (Ht) at withers and average body condition score throughout lactation (ACS), to investigate their relationship with commercial herd performance.

scholarly journals Study of animal welfare status in dairy cow herds in Hungary

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.T. Gudaj ◽  
E. Brydl ◽  
J. Lehoczky ◽  
I. Komlósi
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Normal Behaviour ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Welfare Measures

Animal welfare is a hot topic among consumers, producers and researches nowadays. The major welfare problems of dairy cows are mastitis, lameness, and any conditions which lead to impaired reproduction, inability to express normal behaviour, emergency physiological responses or injury. This paper summarizes preliminary results of project taken in 27 Hungarian dairy farms evaluating general animal welfare. The most important areas for improving animals? wellbeing are related to facilities and comfort of resting. Findings include slippery floors, cows struggling laying and standing in cubicles. Other measures include hair loss, hocks, neck rail injuries and number of thin cows (Body Condition Score 1 and 2). Mouldy silage and low quality of other feedstuff was also found. In conclusion, preliminary results confirm strong demand for monitoring farms and discussions with managers and farmers about welfare measures needed to be taken on farms immediately.

scholarly journals A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas W. Oehm ◽  
Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer ◽  
Anna Rieger ◽  
Alexander Stoll ◽  
Sonja Hartnack
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Background Lameness in dairy cows has been an ongoing concern of great relevance to animal welfare and productivity in modern dairy production. Many studies have examined associations between various factors related to housing, management, and the individual animal and the occurrence of lameness. The objective of this systematic review was to answer the research question “what are risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows that are housed in free stall barns or tie stall facilities”. Furthermore, we performed a synthesis of current evidence on certain risk factors by means of a meta-analysis to illustrate the strength of their association with bovine lameness. Results Following pre-defined procedures and inclusion criteria in accordance with the PRISMA statement, two observers independently included 53 articles out of a pool of 1941 articles which had been retrieved by a broad literature research in a first step. 128 factors that have been associated with lameness were identified in those papers. Meta-analyses were conducted for five factors presented in six different studies: Body condition score, presence of claw overgrowth, days in milk, herd size, and parity. Results indicated that a body condition score of ≤2.5/5 is associated with increased odds of lameness. A higher risk of being lame was found for the presence of claw overgrowth, the first 120 days in milk, larger herd sizes, and increasing parity. Throughout the study, we encountered profound difficulties in retrieving data and information of sufficient quality from primary articles as well as in recovering comparable studies. Conclusions We learned that an abundance of literature on bovine lameness exists. To adequately address a problem of this importance to both animal welfare and economic viability, solid evidence is required in the future to develop effective intervention strategies. Therefore, a consistent working definition of lameness and specific risk factors should be an option to consider.

scholarly journals On-farm welfare assessment of dairy cattle by animal-linked parameters in Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamir Ahsan ◽  
M Ariful Islam ◽  
Md Taohidul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Joint Injury ◽  
Hind Limbs ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
And Performance

The present study was conducted in 33 dairy farms to evaluate the welfare quality of Australian-zebu cross bred cows through some animal-based welfare indicators. The main aims of this research were to identify welfare issues facing dairy cows and investigate whether indicators are associated with measures of welfare and performance efficiency. The assessment of animal welfare was performed (330 animals) Australian-cross breed in family dairy farms at Sirajganj district of Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interview with farmers, followed by an inspection and observation of dairy cows. A total 330 females (43 heifers and 287 cows) were included in this study. Body condition, body cleanliness, injury, lameness, health status and milk yield were assessed. Among studied animals, body condition score 2 about (65.5%), hock joint injury (83.6%), knee injury (48.8%), and a pronounced state of poor cleanliness on: dirty udder (55.9%), flank (55.0%) and hind limbs (96.4%) were observed. Health status including diarrhea, respiratory distress, coughing, nasal and ocular discharge were present in some animals. The results indicate that very good BCS and mastitis free cows are related to higher milk yields. Results of this study may indicate the some indicators that influence the animal welfare and productivity in selected farms. As this work was a preliminary study, so the comprehensive research is needed to further develop the prototype protocol.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(3): 417-424, December 2016

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