Hoof Health Powered by VikingGenetics

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1 Elisabeth Hoof Health Powered by VikingGenetics

2 Why Hoof Health matters? Lameness caused by hoof disorders is among the biggest challenges that face the dairy industry. Lameness is among the top three culling reasons after fertility and udder diseases. Hoof problems do not only cause pain and distress for dairy cattle, but also have a huge impact on the economy of dairy farms. HOOF DISORDERS COSTS per case Heel horn erosion 200 Digital dermatitis 200 Sole ulcer 1310 Sole hemorrhage 120 White line 60 The costs related to lameness are enormous. 10% 3% Other Medicine 24% Culling costs 24% Reduced milk yield 39% Fertility How much does lameness costs your business? Source: Adapted from Willshire et al., 2009 Costs are calculated under Nordic conditions If your goal is to have healthy, high-producing and invisible cows that stay in the herd for several years, hoof health is an important issue that you can t ignore. There are many factors that have an impact on hoof health and the prevention of hoof disorders. Hoof trimming is a common management practice among dairy farmers for curing and preventing hoof diseases. The environment also has a high influence on hoof health. Of course, management, for example, nutrition and feeding management and various preventive measures (e.g. foot baths, calcium hydroxide) have a high impact on hoof quality. However, genetics also plays a key role in dealing with hoof disorders.

3 Can breeding improve hoof health? Hoof Health index in NTM The answer is definitely YES! Hoof disorders are heritable. Even though the heritability of hoof health may be rather low (4%) compared to other traits, it has been confirmed that there is sufficient variation in the population. Research shows that the prevalence of hoof disorders is considerably lower in progeny of sires with favorable hoof health breeding values. Being treated in the same way, some cows will have hoof problems, and others will not. Moreover, some of the cows will recover easier, while others will have hoof problems more often and with greater severity. Genetics is a long-term solution Good management and improving the environment are important short-term solutions for hoof health problems. Genetics is an important long-term solution and the good news is that genetics is effort-free! You just need to include hoof health into your breeding strategy, stick to the plan and rely on NTM (the Nordic Total Merit Index) to select the bulls that have strong genes for hoof health in combination with other traits that are important for your herd. Permanent improvement When you breed for better hoof health, you invest in the future of your herd. You get fewer diseases for each generation, so the investment will pay off more and more with each generation. Genetic improvement that you achieve is a permanent and desired improvement cumulate through generations. 53% NTM Production 30% Health & fertility Conformation In our NTM, there are two traits that can help you to breed for better hoof health. The Hoof Health index that covers 10 different hoof disorders and Feet & Leg problems sub-trait under the General Health index. 17% Hoof trimmers registrations since 2003 First Hoof Health index 2011

4 Hoof Health Index The Hoof Health index in NTM was introduced in 2011, while the data registrations from hoof trimmers on hoof disorders had already started back in Nordic countries were the first in the world to introduce a hoof health index. Having almost 15 years of experience with breeding for better hoof health, we are very proud of our achievements. The Hoof Health index describes the genetic ability of the bull s daughters to resist hoof diseases. The Hoof health index includes 10 hoof disorders grouped into 7 sub-traits. The graph below shows correlations between Hoof Health index and 7 sub-indices for Holstein. Correlations between Hoof Health index and sub-indices - Holstein Adam and Nicole Walpole - Bearii, North east Victoria, Australia We use VikingGenetics because researching deeper into the Viking traits, such as Hoof health, fertility and mastitis, we have realized that Viking proofs provide data with the highest reliabilities, which deliver us the most rapid improvement for these important traits. Hoof health is very important for us because our cows walk several kilometers on a daily basis. Adam and Nicole Walpole Sole ulcer Sole haemorrhage Double sole + White line disease Heel horn erosion Cork screw claw Digital dermatitis + Interdigital Verrucose dermatitis + Interdigital hyperplasia The graph shows average increase in sub-indices when increasing Hoof Health index with one unit. For Holstein 1 unit progress in Hoof Health index gives 0.90 units progress for Sole Ulcer. Chresten Petersen and Jens Lykou Petersen Chresten Petersen, farm manager at Lykousminde owned by Jens Lykou Petersen - Southern Jutland, Denmark Breeding for healthier cows is more important than focusing too much on production. When cow hooves and legs are good, the production will come by itself... We do not use so much time in the stable to take care of the cows. We do not need to catch them for milking times, because they go by themselves. It is the easiest way.

5 Why Hoof Health Index? Get it right every time! The conformation index for feet and legs has been widely used as an indicator for hoof health. Data shows that these two traits are related but the correlation is only 0.24 for Holstein, 0.16 for Red Dairy Cattle and 0.20 for Jersey, which is rather low. Using the Feet & Leg conformation index as your selection tool for better hoof health, you will only achieve your goal one out of four times. We have a solution that ensures you succeed every single time! INDIRECT SELECTION Don t get lost in the labyrinth of indicator traits VikingGenetics Hoof Health index is a more reliable and stronger tool to breed for cows with healthy hooves and feet, as opposed to the conformation index for feet and legs. It is crucial to use direct traits (actual cases of hoof disorders), and not only rely on indirect traits such as Feet & Leg conformation. If you want to improve hoof health in your herd, then choose the Hoof Health index as your selection tool. DIRECT SELECTION 100% success guaranteed better hoof health

6 Correlations with other traits in NTM Put your pieces together! Longevity 38% A dairy cow s health and well-being is a complex system where everything interacts. Correlation between hoof health and NTM is 35% for Holstein. That means that for Holstein when NTM is increased by one unit, hoof health is improved with 0.35 index units. Daughter fertility - 23% Lameness has a negative effect on dairy cattle fertility. Any time a dairy cow has cycling problems, not getting pregnant or losing a pregnancy, this results in higher costs (feed and reproductive costs) and a net loss for the farm. Udder health 11% HOOF HEALTH General health 25% Longevity - 38% Cows with good hoof health stay longer in the herd. Daughter fertility, hoof health, general health and udder health are key drivers of longevity. A long lasting cow is a healthy, trouble-free cow with higher lifetime production. General health - 25% Cows with strong hooves are less susceptible to other diseases, like reproductive and metabolic disorders. Calving direct - 21% Difficult calving has a negative impact on cow s health and ability to get incalf during later lactations. Udder health - 11% Cows with strong hooves have stronger resistance to mastitis. Calving direct 21% Daughter fertility 23% Pieces show correlation correlation% % to hoof health High correlations with longevity, fertility and other health traits mean that if you breed for improved hoof health you would also achieve progress for the traits that are related to hoof health.

7 Huge amount of reliable data There is a huge amount of reliable data behind our Hoof Health index in NTM. The Hoof Health index is calculated based on hoof health records made by hoof trimmers in the first three lactations. Besides the data on 10 hoof disorders that are collected by hoof trimmers, all other hoof disorders are registered by veterinarians, which are used for calculating the breeding value for the sub-trait Feet & Leg problems in the General Health index. This means that our sires have a full declaration on hoof health! What is in it for me? You may wonder, how much reduction in hoof diseases you can expect from selecting a sire with a breeding value (EBV) 110 or 120 for Hoof Health? A bull with a breeding value 100 equals population average for the breed. Based on phenotypic values for VikingHolstein % difference compared to breed population average or a bull with EBV 100 for 7 sub-indices in the Hoof Health index is calculated. Compared to population average or a bull with EBV 100 breeding value (EBV) means that bull s daughters will have EBV 110 EBV ,000 4million records since % less 60% less Sole ulcer, Verrucose dermatitis, Interdigital Hyperplasia, Cork screw claw Electronic registrations % less 16-24% less Digital & Interdig. dermatitis, Heel horn erosion, Sole Hemorrhage, Double sole, White line disease

8 No compromise on production and efficiency When breeding for improved hoof health you do not need to compromise on production and efficiency in your herd. Even though there is zero correlation between hoof health and production, there is no need to give up on improving your milk yield, as production is taken into consideration in NTM. Nordic bulls did not show a genetic decline in hoof health despite great progress for production traits. By relying on NTM in your breeding goal, you can improve both hoof health and yield. In that way, you are taking advantage of the easy-care healthy genetics, without compromising on production and efficiency. With NTM, you are always breeding for improved profit! Jersey Red Dairy Cattle Holstein Jersey 105 Red Dairy Cattle Holstein

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