The Association between Hoof Lesions and Milk Production in Ontario Dairy Cows
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20064721Keywords:
animal welfare, lameness, hoof lesions, milk productionAbstract
To preserve and improve the perception of the dairy industry among consumers, there is a need to identify and act upon animal welfare concerns. Lameness is the dairy industry's most visible animal welfare concern. Unfortunately, dairy producers and practitioners often underestimate the level and impact of lameness and hoof lesions on their farm. The impact of lameness and hoof lesions on milk production in North America has not been widely evaluated across a wide number of herds. The objective of this project was to determine the association between infectious and non-infectious hoof lesions and 305-day milk production in dairy cows.