Working towards a reduction in cattle lameness: 1. Understanding barriers to lameness control on dairy farms

Leach, K. A., Whay, H. R., Maggs, C. M., Barker, Z. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8512-0831, Paul, E. S., Bell, A. K. and Main, D. C. J. (2010) Working towards a reduction in cattle lameness: 1. Understanding barriers to lameness control on dairy farms. Research in Veterinary Science, 89 (2). pp. 311-317. ISSN 1532-2661 doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.02.014

Abstract/Summary

On 222 dairy farms, the farmer’s perception of the scale of the herd lameness problem was compared with the prevalence detected by observation of the milking herd, and a questionnaire explored the barriers to lameness reduction. Ninety percent of farmers did not perceive lameness to be a major problem on their farm, although the average prevalence of lameness was 36%. For 62% of the sample, lameness was not the top priority for efforts made to improve herd health. Time and labour were important limiting factors for lameness control activities and financial constraints prevented farmers taking action on advice in 30% of cases. Farmers’ understanding the implications of lameness for the farm business was limited. Lameness reduction is restricted by farmers’ perception of lameness, but also by time, labour and finance; these issues need to be addressed at the industry level to support animal welfare improvement.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/116697
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.02.014
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Animal Sciences
Publisher	Elsevier
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