Abstract

GARCIA-BRACHO, Dionel et al. Functional Trimming at the Dry off Period to Prevent Foot Diseases in Confined Dairy Cows at the Tropical Area. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2009, vol.19, n.2, pp.147-152. ISSN 0798-2259.

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the functional trimming effect at the dry off period to prevent the hoof diseases in confined milking cows. To do that 47 Brown Swiss cows with two or more parturition were studed at the beginning of the dry off period. The cows were divided in two groups in a random way. One group received the functional trimming as treatment and the other one serve as a control. The cows were monitor to look into the appearance of hoof diseases within the first 5 months of the milk yield period. The results show that 39% of the hoof had any kind of lesions and 61% of the hoof were without lesions, in the same way the treated animal group show only 4% of sick animals whereas in the control group were 45.4%. A comparison study of both groups show a significant statistically differences (P<0.05). The highest amount of lesions that causes lameness in the animals during the trial occur at the rear limb at the lateral claw and the average of days for the appearance of lameness was 72.6 days. From the results it was concluded that functional trimming at the dry off period help to prevent hoof diseases in confined cows at the beginning of the milk yield period.

Keywords : Lameness; bovine; functional trimming.