The prevalence of lameness and associated risk factors on dairy farms in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Through this project, I hope to identify the prevalence of lameness and the associated risk factors on dairy farms in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. A cow that is lame is characterized by having an abnormal gait or stance, often caused by some form of pain or discomfort that the animal is experiencing. It is a serious issue that impairs the welfare of the animal and can have negative consequences for farmers (for example, decreased milk production and reproductive success). We predict that lameness will be highest on highly confined farms with little or no access to pasture for grazing, with grazing-based farms having very low incidences of lameness. The results
of this project have the potential to show local farmers how to manage their herds to minimize lameness. In this way, the results of the project are two-fold: they help improve the welfare of dairy cows as well as benefit local farmers in the western part of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Faculty Supervisor:

Marina von Keyserlingk

Student:

Alexander Thompson

Partner:

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

University:

University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink