Association between individual cow factors and udder cleft dermatitis in dairy cows

Udder cleft dermatitis (UCD) is a skin condition affecting dairy cows, manifesting between the udder halves or at the fore attachment of the udder to the abdominal wall. Although several studies have investigated UCD in recent years, its pathogenesis, relationship to other common dairy cattle diseases, and potential herd- and cow-level risk factors remain poorly understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate any association between cow-level factors and UCD. Five dairy herds in the United Kingdom with cases of UCD were observed at milking over 3 consecutive days. Data on UCD, digital dermatitis (DD), mobility, hock lesions, and cleanliness were collected from the cows using established scoring systems. Lateral and caudal photographs were taken to measure udder height, width, depth, support, and fore udder attachment angle. Additionally, individual milk recording data were gathered. Associations between individual cow data and UCD were analyzed. There were positive associations between cow age, being clinically lame, udder soiling, and udder conformation (depth of udder relative to the hock) and increased odds of UCD. Further research is required to determine the causal relationship between these factors.