Lower odds of sole ulcers in the following lactation in dairy cows that received hoof trimming around drying off

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Sole ulcers negatively affect production and animal welfare in dairy cows. Hoof trimming around drying off is frequently recommended, but has not previously been evaluated scientifically. The association between hoof trimming around drying off and the odds of sole ulcers in the following lactation was evaluated based on recordings from 621,228 hoof trimmings in Danish dairy herds. Overall, 6.2% of cows had sole ulcers at the first hoof trimming 0–180 days in milk. The odds of sole ulcers increased with increasing days in milk, and were approximately 20% lower in cows hoof trimmed around drying off. Odds were higher in older cows, and in cows with sole ulcers in the previously lactation. Hoof trimming around drying off may help reduce the occurrence of sole ulcers in the following lactation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105408
JournalVeterinary Journal
Volume254
Number of pages3
ISSN1090-0233
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Research areas

  • Dairy cow, Drying off, Hoof trimming, Prevention, Sole ulcer

ID: 235589260