Incidence of lameness, Associated risk factors, Treatment response and Milk yield loss reduction in Bishoftu dairy farms, Oromia, Ethiopia
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Date
2025
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Lameness is one of the most serious global health issues in dairy cows, negatively affecting animal welfare, milk production, reproductive health and farm economics. Although several studies have investigated the prevalence of lameness in Ethiopia, there is a scarcity of research on its incidence and treatment response in Bishoftu town. Therefore, a seven- month longitudinal study was conducted on dairy farms in Bishoftu from November 2024 to April 2025 to assess the incidence of lameness, identify associated risk factors, evaluate treatment response, and determine its impact on milk yield. A total of 574 cows from 30 purposively selected dairy farms were included, representing small, medium and large scale operation through proportional sampling method. Lameness was diagnosed and scored through visual observation and clinical examination during weekly farm visits. Lameness positive cows were treated according to its cases and the recovery time was recorded. The result showed that, out of 574 cows followed for seven months from 30 farms, the overall incidence rate at cow level and herd level were 5.23 cases per 100 cow months at risk and 63.33% respectively. A poison regression analysis showed that the herd size, breed, age, milking status, and BCS were significantly associated with lameness (P < 0.05). As study showed, hind limbs was more affected (60%) than forelimbs (40%) and hoof overgrowth (26.67%) was the major cause of lameness in the current study followed by laminitis (20%). Locomotion score 3 was the major lameness score (40%) followed by score 2 (26.7%). The study showed that, 100% of treated cows (30/30) fully responded to treatment with different recovery time. Most cows recovered within 14 days after treatment, while a few took up to 28 days. In lactating cows, there was a significant improvement in milk production after treatment, with (p < 0.05). The study concludes that lameness significantly affects dairy farm economics and animal health. Therefore, early detection, timely treatment, farmers' awareness and automated diagnosis should be recommended as key essential strategy for
preventing and diagnosis of lameness in dairy herd.
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Keywords
Dairy Cows, Incidence, Lameness, Longitudinal, Recover time, Risk factor