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Profile and genetic parameters of dairy cattle locomotion score and lameness across lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2013

A. Kougioumtzis ,
G. E. Valergakis ,
G. Oikonomou ,
G. Arsenos  and
G. Banos
A. Kougioumtzis
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
G. E. Valergakis*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
G. Oikonomou
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
G. Arsenos
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
G. Banos
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece Scotland’s Rural College/Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This study investigated the profile of locomotion score and lameness before the first calving and throughout the first (n=237) and second (n=66) lactation of 303 Holstein cows raised on a commercial farm. Weekly heritability estimates of locomotion score and lameness, and their genetic and phenotypic correlations with milk yield, body condition score, BW and reproduction traits were derived. Daughter future locomotion score and lameness predictions from their sires’ breeding values for conformation traits were also calculated. First-lactation cows were monitored weekly from 6 weeks before calving to the end of lactation. Second-lactation cows were monitored weekly throughout lactation. Cows were locomotion scored on a scale from one (sound) to five (severely lame); a score greater than or equal to two defined presence of lameness. Cows’ weekly body condition score and BW was also recorded. These records were matched to corresponding milk yield records, where the latter were 7-day averages on the week of inspection. The total number of repeated records amounted to 12 221. Data were also matched to the farm’s reproduction database, from which five traits were derived. Statistical analyses were based on uni- and bivariate random regression models. The profile analysis showed that locomotion and lameness problems in first lactation were fewer before and immediately after calving, and increased as lactation progressed. The profile of the two traits remained relatively constant across the second lactation. Highest heritability estimates were observed in the weeks before first calving (0.66 for locomotion score and 0.54 for lameness). Statistically significant genetic correlations were found for first lactation weekly locomotion score and lameness with body condition score, ranging from −0.31 to −0.65 and from −0.44 to −0.76, respectively, suggesting that cows genetically pre-disposed for high body condition score have fewer locomotion and lameness issues. Negative (favourable) phenotypic correlations between first lactation weekly locomotion score/lameness and milk yield averaged −0.27 and −0.17, respectively, and were attributed to management factors. Also a phenotypic correlation between lameness and conception rate of −0.19 indicated that lame cows were associated with lower success at conceiving. First-lactation daughter locomotion score and/or lameness predictions from sires’ estimated breeding values for conformation traits revealed a significant linear effect of rear leg side view, rear leg rear view, overall conformation, body condition score and locomotion, and a quadratic effect of foot angle.

Keywords

locomotion scorelamenessdairy cattlelactationgenetic parameters
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 20 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2013 

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