The Effect of Compost-Bedded Pack Barns on Claw Health and Lameness in Dairy Herds in Southern Germany

The aim of this study was to determine claw health and lameness prevalence in cows housed in CBPs in southern Germany. Eight farms that housed their dairy cows in CBPs were visited for data collection once in the warm season and once in the cold season between January and December 2023. The first visit was during hoof trimming of the herd to identify claw disorders, score lameness, and assess the bedded pack resting area. Lameness was scored again and the bedded pack resting area assessed at the second visit. To compare claw health at cow and farm levels, a cow claw score (CCS) and a farm claw score (FCS) were calculated using geometric severity scores. The prevalence of lameness at cow level was 9.4% in the cold season and 11.1% in the warm season, which were lower than values reported in studies that investigated cubicle free-stall barns. The low prevalences of lameness and claw disorders were reflected in a CCS of 8 and FCS of 9, which are defined as excellent. Based on our results, CBPs are associated with low lameness prevalence and favourable claw health.