Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Area of hock hair loss in dairy cows : risk factors and correlation to a categorical scale

Lim, P.Y.; Huxley, Jonathan; Green, Martin J.; Othman, A.R.; Potterton, S.L.; Brignell, Christopher; Kaler, Jasmeet

Authors

P.Y. Lim

Jonathan Huxley

MARTIN GREEN martin.green@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Cattle Health & Epidemiology

A.R. Othman

S.L. Potterton

JASMEET KALER JASMEET.KALER@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Epidemiology & Precision Livestock Informatics



Abstract

Data from 3691 dairy cows from 76 farms were used to investigate the risk factors associated with area of hair loss over the lateral aspect of the hock, and the correlation between the area of hair loss as calculated using a hock map and hock lesion scores determined using a pre-existing categorical scale.
Six factors were associated with a greater area of hair loss, including cows with locomotion score 3, a cleanliness score (10-18/28), high daily milk yield (25.1 - 58.1 kg), poor body condition score (1-1.5), duration of winter housing (?41 days) and some combinations of cubicle base and bedding materials. Compared with cows housed in cubicles with a concrete base and whole straw or rape straw bedding, cows housed in cubicles with concrete bases with sand or chopped straw bedding had smaller areas of hair loss and cows housed on a mattress base with whole straw or rape straw bedding had a larger area of hair loss.
Area of hair loss, as measured on hock maps, was not significantly different between cows with score 1 (median=23.6 cm2) and score 2 (median=20.3 cm2) on the categorical scale for hock lesions. This suggests that the categorical scale was not reflecting the extent of hair loss and that hock maps are a good alternative for studying the dynamics of hock lesions over time. Further work is required to explore the aetiology of hock lesions and find better ways to control this common condition.
Keywords: Hock lesions; Hair loss; Dairy cow; Welfare; Hock maps

Citation

Lim, P., Huxley, J., Green, M. J., Othman, A., Potterton, S., Brignell, C., & Kaler, J. (2015). Area of hock hair loss in dairy cows : risk factors and correlation to a categorical scale. Veterinary Journal, 203(2), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.11.005

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Feb 1, 2015
Deposit Date Jul 3, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Veterinary Journal
Print ISSN 1090-0233
Electronic ISSN 1090-0233
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 203
Issue 2
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.11.005
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/985123
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023314004523

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations