Hygiene scoring method in dairy cows

Abstract

Intensification and scaling up of dairy systems oen
leads to increased environmental pressure on animal health and
welfare. To evaluate the performance and evolution of these
systems, simple, applicable indicators easy and cheap to obtain are
necessary. Animal hygiene, related to animal health and welfare, is
useful and practical as an assessment tool. Most of the evaluation
methods respond to the predominant systems of production
and conditions in their place of development, being necessary
a hygiene qualification method adaptable to environmental and
productive conditions of our region. A dairy cow hygiene scoring
system that asses three different anatomical sites (udder, feet, and
upper leg) is proposed. Using five levels that represent percentages
of the evaluated body surface covered by dirt; Scoring from 0 (less
than 5%) to 4 (more than 60%), the values 1, 2 and 3 represent
ranges from 5 to 20%; 20 to 40% and 40 to 60% of the skin surface
covered by dirt, respectively. e score can be given for each
anatomical site and/or a global score per animal can be obtained
by averaging the score given to each site.