Animal Production

Table of Contents - 1990 - Volume 51, Issue 02  

Research Article

Lameness in dairy cattle and the type of concentrate given

E. F. Kellya1 p1 and J. D. Leavera1 p2

a1 West of Scotland Agricultural College, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries

Abstract

A concentrate containing ground barley, soya-bean meal and fish meal was compared with one containing dried molassed sugar-beet pellets, dried distillers' grains and fish meal, in its influence on lameness in housed dairy cattle. Two groups of 24 cows were offered the diets in a 60:40 concentrate dry matter: grass silage dry matter ratio during weeks 3 to 26 of lactation. The same daily amounts of metabolizable energy and crude protein were offered to the two groups. The barley-based concentrate diet significantly increased locomotion score (indicating poorer locomotion), and the number and duration of clinical cases of lameness, compared with the sugar-beet concentrate diet. Hoof growth, wear, shape and hardness were not significantly affected by the diets. There were 16/24 cows with a locomotion score of 3 or over (1 to 5 scale) for an average of 7·3 weeks on the barley concentrate compared with 10/24 cows for 3·7 weeks on the sugar-beet concentrate. There was no significant difference between treatments in milk production or live-weight gain.

(Received September 25 1989)

(Accepted February 23 1990)

Keywords

Correspondence:

p1 Present addresses: Cyanamid of Great Britain Limited, Gosport. PO Box 7, Hampshire PO13 0AS.

p2 Wye College, University of London, Wye, Ashford. Kent TN25 5AH.