Assessment of conformation scoring of the limbs as a potential explanatory factor for claw health in dairy cows

The selection of breeding animals is critical for a robust livestock population. Conformation trait scoring represents a practical approach to evaluate a cow's potential for productivity, longevity, and suitability for breeding. The scored traits are assigned to four subsections: frame and capacity, pelvis, limbs, and udder. Previous studies examining associations between specific limb conformation traits and the incidence of claw lesions have found low to moderate associations. This study (n = 21,145 cows) investigates associations between claw health and the score encompassing all traits of the 'limbs' subsection as well as the final score per cow. This approach aims to capture potential associations between limb conformation and claw health that may not be linked to a single trait, but the overall limb conformation. Claw health data were recorded by professional claw trimmers participating in the Swiss Claw Health Project and aggregated to three outcome values. For each recording, disorder occurrence and severity were combined to a value representing claw health in general encompassing all claw lesions. Also, two sub values were created, one encompassing the stages of digital dermatitis only, the other claw horn lesions only. The score for the 'limbs' subsection was associated with the occurrence of claw lesions in general and claw horn lesions. The effect sizes were small and ranged from 10 to 59 % increased odds across score categories for the occurrence of lesions of the digits in general and 10-104 % for the occurrence of claw horn lesions. The effect sizes reflect the multifactorial nature of claw health. The study concludes that limb conformation scoring can only be a supportive tool in assessing a cow's potential for future claw health.

2025

dissertation

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