Reducing the Incidence of Non-ambulatory Dairy Cows
Gary W. Rogers
University of Tennessee

One of the goals of every dairy producer is to have healthy cows that produce a lot of milk effi ciently. But that goal is not always a reality, especially when looking at individual cows. The ban on non-ambulatory cattle in the human food supply and the restrictions on rendering
will ultimately affect dairy producers' culling decisions. For most Tennessee dairy producers, the top fi ve reasons for culling cows are 1) disease or injury, 2) reproductive problems, 3) mastitis, 4) low production and 5) lameness/ feet and legs. And let's face it, the overall health status of an animal plays a part in all of these reasons. The possibility of “sick” cows being rejected at the market means producers need to look at their management practices and intervene in situations sooner — ultimately reducing the number of “sick” cows and downer cows. Your goal should be to make culling decisions based on production and management reasons rather than as a necessity.

The following tips could help reduce the number of non-ambulatory cows:

1. Maintain a well-balanced ration and especially encourage adequate dry matter intake in transition cows and recently fresh cows. Work to minimize metabolic disorders. Observe cows regularly during the transition period and segregate any cows to a comfortable area where they can easily lie down or move around on their own. Keep cows in good body condition. Cows that are too fat will have reduced dry matter intake right after calving.
2. Utilize calving ease sires, especially in heifers, to reduce dystocia. Consider using Jersey AI bulls or Scandinavian Red AI bulls on Holstein heifers.
3. Do not get heifers too fat at calving but make sure they are adequately grown for calving. A body condition score of 3.5 is probably ideal. Body condition scores of 4.0 or above indicate heifers are too fat and can result in calving problems.
4. Use care in assisting cows having distressed labor. Careful use of calf pullers is essential. Make sure cows do not lie too long in one position at calving. Do not intervene in calving too quickly.
5. Groove or otherwise make concrete surfaces less slippery. Try to keep concrete areas as dry as possible. Consider using rubber in high traffi c areas. Create traffic movement areas that have limited sharp turns.
6. Try to provide cows access to dirt or vegetative lots or pasture as much as possible. Cows on pasture much of the time have fewer health problems. Pure pasture systems like those in New Zealand have cows that survive twice as long as dairy cows in conventional systems.
7. Keep hooves of dairy cattle in good shape by trimming and proper ration balancing. Be diligent with cows starting to develop a hoof problem. Do not assume that the problem will cure itself in a few days. Pay particular attention to fi ber in the ration. Minimize the use of byproduct feeds that have low fi ber content and produce acidosis. Include 2 or more pounds of long stem hay per cow per day in total mixed rations.
8. Let yearling heifers have access to concrete areas so they can learn to move on concrete before they calve for the fi rst time. Prior experience on concrete surfaces helps heifers adapt when they calve. Heifers can be easily injured if they are thrust onto concrete surfaces with swollen udders. Dominant cows can also injure new heifers more easily if they are not familiar with concrete.
9. Ensure that recently fresh cows are housed in areas with good footing and where competition for feed and water is reduced. Loose housing may be desirable for recently fresh cows if the loose housing environment is well maintained.
10. Use handling methods that allow cows to move methodically with little excitement. Avoid “frightening” cows or abusing cows to get them to move rapidly. Be patient when handling or moving cows.
11. In the long run, breed for cattle that have improved longevity. Select for improved health, calving ease, improved feet and increased productive life. Use good AI bulls that are selected to improve these traits. Consider using good AI bulls in a crossbreeding program. Crossbreeding programs could involve using selected AI bulls from Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss and Scandinavian breeds in a rotation. In New Zealand, crossbred cows stay in the herd for one more lactation than their purebred contemporaries.
12. Keep facilities, dry lots and pastures in safe condition. Remove any objects or repair any areas that might injure cows. Inspect cattle housing areas and heavy use areas regularly.
13. Remove high-risk cows from the herd before they become non-ambulatory. Cows with digestive diseases can sometimes be sold before they become non-ambulatory. Older cows that have had previous metabolic problems but recovered may be good candidates for culling.