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Hock lesions and free-stall design
1Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Centre for Applied Ethics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. danweary@interchange.ubc.ca
Journal of Dairy Science
|May 3, 2000
Summary
Dairy cow hock lesions are common, especially on farms with geotextile mattresses. Sand bedding significantly reduces lesion prevalence and severity, while sawdust offers intermediate results. Older cows and shorter stalls correlate with more severe hock issues.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Animal Husbandry
- Farm Management
Background:
- Hock lesions are a common welfare concern in dairy cows.
- Bedding surfaces are a known contributing factor to hock lesion development.
- Understanding the impact of different bedding types is crucial for improving cow comfort and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence and severity of hock skin lesions in lactating dairy cows across different bedding surfaces.
- To identify specific hock locations and lesion characteristics associated with each bedding type.
- To investigate the influence of farm management factors, such as stall length and cow age, on hock lesion development.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 dairy farms in southern British Columbia.
- Lactating dairy cows (n=1752) were scored for hock lesions at five defined positions.
- Lesions were assessed for inflammatory attributes and assigned a severity score based on visual criteria.
Main Results:
- Overall, 73% of cows had at least one hock lesion.
- Hock lesions were most prevalent (91%) and severe on farms using geotextile mattresses, and least common (24%) on farms using sand.
- Sawdust bedding showed intermediate prevalence and severity. Lesion occurrence and severity increased with cow age and were negatively correlated with stall length on sawdust-bedded farms.
Conclusions:
- Bedding surface is a significant determinant of hock lesion prevalence and severity in lactating dairy cows.
- Sand bedding appears to be the most effective in minimizing hock lesions, while geotextile mattresses are associated with the highest risk.
- Further research into optimal stall design and bedding management practices is warranted to mitigate hock lesions and improve dairy cattle welfare.
