Influence of body condition score and ultrasound-determined thickness of body fat deposit in holstein-friesian cows on the risk of lameness developing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the correlations between ultrasound measurement of thickness of fat over the tuber ischiadicum (TFT), body condition scoring (BCS) and the risk of lameness developing in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. The 100 cows were enrolled from a population of dry cows on one farm. TFT was measured with ultrasound, and BCS and locomotion score were determined during lactation. Of the 100 cows, 31% developed lameness during lactation. The highest proportion of lame cows was in cows with BCS≥4.25 (66.7%). The risk of lameness developing was higher in cows with BCS≥4.25 (OR=7) and ≤3.25 (OR=2) than in cows with optimal BCS=3.75. Cows in the lower TFT quartile had a higher proportion of lameness, but not those in the upper quartile. TFT may have some value as a predictor of lameness in thin cows. The best prediction of lameness in both fat and thin cows (ROCAUC=0.8725, P<0.01) occurred when both BCS and TFT values were used together. The risk of developing lameness was positively correlated with BCS, negatively correlated with TFT and negatively correlated with their interaction. For fat cows, BCS assessment is a suitably strong predictor of lameness. In normal or thin cows, lameness prediction required the combination of both BCS and TFT measurements.

Keywords

• dairy cow
• lameness
• body condition score