APPROACHES TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF DAIRY COWS THROUGH ALLEVIATION OF LAMENESS
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Date
2022
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR - 585 401
Abstract
An experiment was conducted in 20 lactating dairy cows to study the effect of
Hoof Trimming (HT) on the performance of dairy animals. Lameness Index Score
(LIS 1-5) was allotted; milk yield and its composition, physiological indices and basic
behavioral patterns (Ethogram 3-5 hrs/day) were recorded during the experiment.
These recordings were done one week prior to HT and on 0, 3, 6, 8, 11and14th days
after HT. The results showed that significant difference (P≤0.05) in milk yield was on
0th day, 3rd day, 6th day, 8th day when compared to before week of HT (13.25±0.83).
Significant increase in milk Fat % (P ≤0.05) was observed on 11th day and 14th day
(4.10±0.04), significant decrease (P≤0.05) in milk SNF % was observed on 0th day,
3rd day, 6th day and 8th day (8.45±0.03), whereas significant difference (P≤0.05) in
milk protein % was observed on 0, 3 and 6th day (2.64±0.04) when compared with
before week of HT. Significant difference (P≤0.05) in rectal temperature was
observed on 0, 3 6, 8 and 11th day when compared with before week of HT
(101.30±0.08) whereas significant increase (P≤0.05) in heart rate was observed on 0,
3, 6, 8, 11 and 14th day when compared with before week of HT (66.7±0.21).
Significant increase (P˃0.05) in respiration rate was observed on 0th day (20.45±0.29).
Significant improvement in LIS was noticed on 8th day (2.55±0.15), 11th day
(2.00±0.13) and 14th day (1.95±0.14) when compared to before week of HT
(2.90±0.12). Dairy cows showed 38 out of 46 total patterns, before HT. After HT
dairy cows showed 36 out of 46 total patterns. Hence it may be concluded that HT
showed positive effect towards increase of milk fat % and improvement in locomotion
score of dairy cows. It didn’t affect the milk yield, physiological indices and
behaviour except in the initial days which retained to normal within a few days.