Influence of hygienic condition on prevalence of mastitis and lameness in dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between udder and leg hygiene scores of lactating dairy cows and prevalence of subclinical mastitis and lameness in Slovak farms. We assumed that dirty cow has higher probability to become ill than the clean one. 17 dairy farms were monitored in this study. Fifty cows were chosen randomly on each of the farm and SCC (somatic cell count), lameness, udder and leg hygiene scores were assessed. Five-point system for scoring lameness, cleanliness of feet and cleanliness of udders was used. The samples for SCC analysis were taken on the same day as the assessments of udder and leg hygiene scores. The occurrence of mastitis and lameness varied from 22 to 58 % (31 + 6 %) and from 12 to 47 % (26 + 8 %), respectively. Coefficients of correlation between udder hygiene scores and mastitis were 0.77 and between leg hygiene scores and lameness 0.63. We confirmed that udder cleanliness influences prevalence of mastitis in the herd but the influence of leg cleanliness was not evident.