The Effect of Lameness on Milk Production in Friesian-Holstein Cows

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In a recent study carried out over three years, on a commercial Cheshire dairy herd, 86% of animals were found to be lame at some time. This level of disease is considerably higher than has been reported, (Rowlands, Russell and Williams, 1983; Dohoo, Martin, Meek and Sandals, 1983) and may have important economic implications.Lameness has been associated with reduced 305 day yields (Rowlands and Lucey, 1986), lower than average lifetime yield (Cobo Abreu, Martin, Wiiloughby and Stone, 1979), lower yields in early lactation (Enevoldson and Grohn, 1991), and a reduction in percentage milk protein (Bigras-Poulin, Meek and Martin, 1990).