Abstract:
In order to analyze the influencing factors of the incidence of limb and foot disease of dary cows in large-scale dairy farms in Heilongjiang Province, in the study, the incidence of limb and foot diseases in 29 050 cows in 27 large-scale dairy farms in Harbin City, Qiqihar City, Mudanjiang City, Jiamusi City and Daqing City in Heilongjiang Province from 2018 to 2020 was investigated. The statistics of the incidence of limb and foot diseases of dairy cows was carried out in dairy farms of different regions, involing in the study of the elements of dairy farms of different scales, different seasons, different health conditions, using different cow mattress materials, different hoof repair methods, different hoof bathing frequency and in dairy cows of different parity times, different body conditions, different annual average milk production volume, and different lactation periods. The results showed that the total incidence of limb and foot disease in 27 large-scale dairy farms in Heilongjiang Province was 28.6%. The incidence of limb and foot disease of dairy cows in 2019 was the highst(39.9%). The incidence of limb and foot diseases of dairy cows in 2020 was the lowest(21.4%). The incidence of different types of limb and foot disease was different, among which the incidence of hoof dermatitis was the highest, 16.4%; followed by deformed hoof, hoof base ulcer+hoof tip ulcer, with incidence rates of 4.2% and 3.5%, respectively. The incidence of limb and foot disease was higher in Mudanjiang City and Jiamusi City, with 33.3% and 33.1%, respectively. The incidence of limb and foot diseases was lower in Qiqihar City and Daqing City, with 25.0% and 24.7%, respectively. Except for the high incidence of laminitis in large-scale dairy farms, the incidence of other types of limb and foot diseases showed a decreasing trend with the increase of dairy farm size. Limb and foot disease occurred in dairy cows in Heilongjiang Province all year round, and the incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy cows in winter and summer was relatively high, 8.7% and 7.5%, respectively. Spring and autumn incidence rates were lower, 6.2% and 5.9%, respectively. The incidence in winter was significantly higher than that in autumn(P<0.05).The better the hygiene of the dairy farm, the lower the incidence of limb and foot disease of dairy cows. The incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy farms using cow manure+rice husk was the highest, at 28.8%; then for dairy farms using rice husk, the incidence was 27.9%; dairy farms using sand had the lowest incidence of limb and foot disease, at 26.1%. However, there was no significant difference in incidence among dairy farms using different mattress materials(P>0.05).The incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy farms with "2 times/year+daily" was significantly lower than that in dairy farms with "2 times/year "(31.9%, P<0.05). With the increase of the frequency of hoof bathing in dairy farms, the incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy cows gradually decreased, and the incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy farms with hoof bathing frequency of 1 time/week, 2 times/week and 3 times/week was 35.9%, 28.3% and 24.0%, respectively. The incidence of limb and foot diseases in dairy cows increased with the increase of parity frequency, and the incidence of limb and foot disease in 1, 2, 3, 4, ≥5 fetuses was 24.7%, 26.7%, 29.2%, 31.2% and 34.0%, respectively. In dairy cows with different body conditions, the incidence of limb and foot disease in obese dairy cows was the highest, at 35.9%; followed by emaciated cows, with an incidence of 32.3%; the incidence of limb and foot disease in normal dairy cows was the lowest, at 28.2%. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of limb and foot disease among different body conditions(P>0.05). The incidence of limb and foot diseases in dairy cows increased with the increase of milk production. The incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy cows with average annual milk production of ≤7.5 t, >7.5-9 t, >9-<10.5 t and ≥10.5 t was 26.0%, 27.1%, 29.4% and 31.4%, respectively. In different lactation periods, the incidence of limb and foot diseases in dairy cows in the early stage of lactation was the highest, at 9.3%; then, in the middle and late lactation periods, the incidence rates were 7.9% and 7.4%, respectively. Perinatal dairy cows had the lowest incidence of limb and foot disease, at 3.0%. The results suggested that from 2018 to 2020, hoof dermatitis was the main type of limb and foot disease in dairy cows in Heilongjiang Province, and the season, hoof repair method, hoof bath frequency, parity, lactation capacity and lactation period had a significant impact on the incidence of limb and foot disease in dairy cows.