Impact of Lameness on Brush Use in a Loose-Housed Dairy System

Simple Summary Lameness is a big issue within UK dairy herds that can lead to significant welfare and financial implications. Early detection and treatment can result in a better cure of this painful condition. Cows enjoy grooming each other and will use automatic brushes to groom themselves. However, grooming is a luxury behaviour that is performed if everything else is fine with the cow. Lame cows may use brushes less because it could be painful to be on their feet. This study aimed to assess if the possibility of monitoring automated brush use within a loose-housed dairy herd could aid in the early identification of lameness. This study found that if accurate monitoring of individuals' brush use (duration per visit to a brush) could be collected, then this could act as an indicator for lameness. This information could then be utilised on the farm to allow prompt identification of the individual(s) for direct assessment, which in turn allows for prompt action to be taken with the aim of improved outcomes for the cow(s) and the farm.Abstract This study focused on a group of 49 high-yielding dairy cows (primarily Holstein Friesians) and how their interactions with wall-mounted automated brushes correlated to their mobility (also described as lameness) score (AHDB 0-3 system. Of the 49 animals in the study, 48 were mobility scored with a sample lameness prevalence of 14.6% (n = 22 score 0, n = 19 score 1, n = 6 score 2 and n = 1 score 3 (score 2 and 3 combined due to low numbers identified)). There was no statistical difference in the number of visits between the lame (score 2 and 3) and sound cows (score 0 and 1); however, there was a statistically relevant decrease in the duration that the lame cows spent brushing per visit (sound 91.7 +/- 6.06 s compared to lame 63.0 +/- 9.22 s, p = 0.0097). No significant difference was identified in how the lame cows interacted with the brushes (i.e., which body part) when compared to the group. The group, in general, showed a significant preference towards interacting with the brush with their head area (63.95% of interactions observed over the 72 h involved the head). In conclusion, monitoring brush use (duration of use per visit) could aid with the identification of clinically lame animals.