Association between herd fertility management and hoof health practices and relation with respective herd performance indicators

Effective fertility management and hoof health measures are essential for maintaining high productivity, animal welfare and profitability in large dairy farms. Fertility outcomes are influenced by multiple factors including environmental conditions and management practices, while poor hoof health increases the risk of lameness that negatively affects fertility by triggering inflammatory and stress responses which disrupt hormone release. This study aimed to analyze the association between cow fertility and hoof health management practices with herd fertility and hoof health performance indicators in largescale Estonian dairy herds. Data were collected from 120 dairy herds with at least 100 cows in free-stall housing system through farm visits done between August 2019 and July 2020, including interviews, on-farm measurements and animal-based assessments. The average herd size was 518 cows with average calving interval of 407.7 days and an average first service conception rate of 47.4%. Smaller herds (<250 cows) had longer calving intervals but higher first service conception rates. Higher proportion of animals with head, neck, shoulder and carpus lesions were associated with poorer fertility outcomes. Herds with higher proportion of dirty animals during calving had longer calving intervals while those using combined heat detection methods had better reproductive performance than those relying solely on visual observation. Housing conditions, especially deep litter bedding at calving and three-row cubicle design, were linked to lower culling rates due to hoof diseases. These findings highlight the importance of integrated fertility, welfare and housing management approached in improving herd performance.

Tõhusad karjade sigivust ja sõratervist parandavad meetmed on olulised lehmade produktiivsuse, heaolu ja karja majandusliku kasumlikkuse seisukohast. Karja sigivust mõjutavad mitmed tegurid, sealhulgas keskkonnatingimused ja karja juhtimispraktikad. Halb sõratervis suurendab lonkamise riski, mis mõjub negatiivselt sigivusele, vallandades põletiku- ja stressireaktsioone, mis häirivad hormoonide vabanemist. Käesoleva uuringu eesmärk oli analüüsida Eesti suurtes veisekarjades seost farmide juhtimispraktikate ning lehma sigivuse ja sõratervise vahel. Andmed koguti 2019-2020 aastal 120 vabapidamisel peetavast piimakarjast, kus oli vähemalt 100 lehma. Farmides viidi läbi intervjuud, tehti mõõtmised ning saadud tulemusi analüüsiti statistiliste meetoditega. Uurimisaluste karjade keskmine suurus oli 518 lehma, keskmise poegimisvahemik 407,7 päeva ja tiinestumine esimesest seemendusest keskmiselt 47,4%. Väiksemates karjades (alla 250 lehma) oli pikem poegimisvahemik, kuid kõrgem tiinestumine esimesest seemendusest. Karjades, kus poegimise ajal oli määrdunud loomi rohkem, oli keskmiselt pikem poegimisvahemik. Karjades, kus kasutati kombineeritud inna avastamise meetodeid, oli tiinestumine parem võrreldes karjadega, kus avastati inda vaid visuaalselt. Vähem praagiti loomi sigivuse ja sõrahaiguste tõttu karjades, mis kasutasid poegimise ajal sügavallapanu ja lehmi peeti kolmerealises laudas. Uuringu tulemused toovad esile integreeritud sigivuse, loomade heaolu ja pidamistingimuste olulisuse karja tootlikkuse parandamisel.