The Effect of Season, Walking Surface and Sire Identification on Thin Soles in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Thin soles have become a major economic problem in large total confinement dairies in the United States. The cause appears to be multifactorial and relates to factors that result in an increase in sole horn wear. Factors such as the distance cows have to walk on concrete to be milked, poor cow comfort, claw horn moisture content and horn quality, heat stress and overtrimming have been implicated. The purpose of this study was to: a) investigate the incidence of thin soles over a period of 12 months from two herds in relation to month of year b) determine the incidence of thin soles in first lactation cows in Herd 1 for the 9 months prior and 9 months following installation of rubber on walk ways and c) determine any sire effect on thin soles for first lactation cows in Herd 1.