Risk factors associated with lameness and hoof lesions in pasture-based dairy cattle systems in southeast Brazil

摘要

Cattle lameness is an important welfare concern thatalso has an economic impact on the dairy industry.It can be a significant problem among pasture-basedherds. Our objectives were to identify cow- and herdlevelfactors related to lameness and hoof lesions indairy cows grazing year-round in Minas Gerais, Brazil.We performed a cross-sectional study in 48 pasturebaseddairy herds, visiting each farm in a single visit.We evaluated 2,262 cows for mobility score (0–3) and392 cows for hoof lesions. We used a questionnaireand checklist to capture herd management data. Allinformation obtained was used to build multivariablemodels. The factors associated with lameness were lowbody condition score, longer time spent in the corral,being kept in paddocks during the drought period,and poor hygiene. For hoof lesions, track features werethe most significant factor in determining the likelihoodof heel horn erosion, white line fissure, and solehemorrhage—by more than 3 times. Different factorsrelated to unhygienic conditions such as leg cleanliness,frequency of cleaning, and longer time spent inthe corral were associated with infectious hoof lesions.Poor human–animal relationship was related to solehemorrhage, but patient handling of cows on the trackwas a protective factor against interdigital hyperplasia.The results of this study suggest that improving hygieneconditions, track features, and cow handling canimprove dairy cattle mobility scores in pasture-basedfarms under tropical conditions. These findings alsorepresent a first step toward planning actions aimedat decreasing lameness and hoof lesions in the studiedregion.