This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on lameness in dairy cattle.
This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on lameness in dairy cattle.
The first chapter provides an overview of lameness and its impact on dairy cow health and welfare. The chapter reviews existing methods for manual and automated detection of lameness, including approaches that detect changes and abnormalities in the gait, stance and behaviour of the animal, including the use of video, accelerometers and spatial positioning systems.
The second chapter discusses the aetiology of the four main causes of lameness in dairy cows: sole ulcer, white line, digital dermatitis and interdigital phlegmon. The chapter reviews the importance of prompt and effective treatments, as well as the best practices to optimise foot health to prevent the onset of lameness.
The third chapter reviews advances in dairy cattle breeding to improve resistance to claw and foot disorders, primarily lameness. It considers the various steps in breeding, from the definition of the breeding goal to genomic evaluation and data validation, as well as the consequent challenges which can develop.
The final chapter examines the impact of lameness on dairy production and highlights the importance of optimising foot health in dairy cattle to prevent the occurrence of lameness. The chapter discusses claw horn disruption and concludes with a case study on an outbreak of lameness in a herd of 800 Holstein cows.
Chapter 1 - Developments in automated systems for monitoring livestock
health: lameness: Zoe E. Barker, University of Reading, UK; Nick J. Bell,
University of Nottingham, UK; Jonathan R. Amory, Writtle University College,
UK; and Edward A. Codling, University of Essex, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Lameness
and its impacts 3 Lameness and behaviour 4 Non-automated detection of
lameness 5 Automated detection of lameness using non-wearable technology 6
Automated detection of lameness using animal-mounted accelerometers 7
Automated detection of lameness using spatial positioning systems 8
Conclusion and future trends 9 Where to look for further information 10
References
Chapter taken from: Berckmans, D. (ed.), Advances in precision livestock
farming, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2022, (ISBN 978 1
78676 471 3)
Chapter 2 - Preventing and managing lameness in dairy cows: Nick Bell, The
Royal Veterinary College, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Lameness in dairy cows:
associated pain, prevalence and incidence 3 Recording causes and ensuring
prompt and effective treatment 4 Lesion aetiology and categories of risk for
the four main causes of lameness in dairy cows 5 Risk assessments and
cost-effective interventions 6 Conclusions: how assessment, evaluation and
facilitation is driving improvement 7 Where to look for further information 8
References
Chapter taken from: Webster, J. (ed.), Achieving sustainable production of
milk Volume 3: Dairy herd management and welfare, Burleigh Dodds Science
Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2017, (ISBN 978 1 78676 052 4)
Chapter 3 - Advances in dairy cattle breeding to improve resistance to claw
disorders/lameness: C. Egger-Danner, ZuchtData EDV-Dienstleistungen GmbH,
Austria; and B. Heringstad, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU),
Norway; 1 Introduction 2 Breeding goals 3 Data sources of phenotypes 4
Genetic evaluation 5 Selection and genetic gain 6 International developments
in improving claw health and lameness 7 Conclusion 8 Future trends 9
Acknowledgements 10 Where to look for further information 11 References
Chapter taken from: van der Werf, J. and Pryce, J. (eds.), Advances in
breeding of dairy cattle, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK,
2020, (ISBN 978 1 78676 332 7)
Chapter 4 - Optimising foot health in dairy cattle: Nick J. Bell, The
University of Nottingham, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Claw horn disruption a
paradigm shift 3 Aetiopathogenesis of white line bruising and lesions 4
Aetiopathogenesis and control of digital dermatitis 5 Summary and critical
control points 6 Case study 7 Emerging diseases and future concepts 8 Where
to look for further information 9 References
Chapter taken from: Bouchard, E. (ed.), Improving dairy herd health, Burleigh
Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2021, (ISBN 978 1 78676 467 6)
