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Subjective and Objective Assessment of Pain and Discomfort Due to Lameness in Dairy Cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

K A O'Callaghan ,
P J Cripps ,
D Y Downham  and
R D Murray
K A O'Callaghan*
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
P J Cripps
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
D Y Downham
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Liverpool L69 7ZL, UK
R D Murray
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: k.a.ocallaghan@liverpool.ac.uk
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Abstract

Pain experienced by lame cattle is often masked by their instinctive stoicism, leading to delayed detection and treatment of lameness. This paper investigates the usefulness of posture scoring during locomotion and the evaluation of daily activity levels as indicators of pain and discomfort resulting from lameness in dairy cattle. In this study, 345 lactating cattle were observed over a seven-month winter housing period. The posture of each cow was scored twice weekly using a subjective five-point numerical rating scale. Daily activity levels were measured objectively using pedometers. The effect of lameness on behaviour was addressed. Increased posture scores were associated with the presence of foot lesions (P < 0.001) and with reduced daily activity levels (P < 0.001). In comparison to sound cows, lame cows showed lower daily activity levels (P < 0.001). These results improve understanding of pain-related behaviours in cattle, and such an approach may assist future development of welfare assessment systems.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourcowlamenesspainpedometer
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 12 , Issue 4: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , November 2003 , pp. 605 - 610
Copyright
© 2003 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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