Farm-Level Risk Factors for Lameness in 659 German Dairy Herds Kept in Loose Housing Systems

Simple Summary Lameness is an important welfare issue in dairy farming that is causing substantial economic losses. This study aims to determine the association of potential risk factors with farm-level lameness in German dairy herds, including cubicle design and cubicle bedding, feeding management, lameness assessment, claw health management, stocking density, and floor design. Risk factors were identified for all cows regardless of the number of calvings (primiparous and multiparous cows) and for first lactation cows separately. Results of the present study showed that larger cubicle width and deep bedded cubicles are associated with a lower risk of being lame. In farms feeding a total mixed ration, the risk of being lame was lower than in farms with other feeding routines (partial mixed ration or single components). For first lactation cows, the way and frequency of lameness assessment were associated with lameness. Many of the factors revealed by this study are related to cow comfort, especially the comfort when lying down. More attention is needed here to reduce lameness in German dairy cows.Abstract Six hundred fifty-nine farms in three regions of Germany (North: n = 240, East: n = 247, and South: n = 172) were included in the study, which aims at determining the association of management-related risk factors with farm-level lameness in German dairy herds. For each risk factor, a generalised linear regression model with negative binomial distribution and logit link was built. Results showed that cows housed in deep-bedded cubicles had a lower risk of being lame than cows housed in other cubicle types. A larger cubicle width was associated with a lower risk of being lame. Feeding a total mixed ration was associated with lower lameness prevalence (compared to feeding a partial mixed ration or single components). For first lactation cows, lameness assessment performed daily (compared to less than daily) and during other work tasks (compared to lameness assessment as a separate work task) were associated with lower risk for lameness. Finally, the present study provided evidence for crucial associations of management-related risk factors with lameness in German dairy cows, especially in the fields of cubicle design, feeding management, and lameness assessment.