Articles | Volume 69, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-1-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-1-2026
Original study
 | 
07 Jan 2026
Original study |  | 07 Jan 2026

Phenotypic and genetic analyses of claw lesions in TMR Holstein herds in South Africa

Robyn C. Joubert, Bernice E. Mostert, Andries Masenge, and Esté van Marle-Köster

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Cited articles

Afonso, J. S., Bruce, M., Keating, P., Raboisson, D., Clough, H., Oikonomou, G., and Rushton, J.: Profiling detection and classification of lameness methods in British dairy cattle research: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Front. Vet. Sci., 7, 542, https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00542, 2020. 
Akoglu, H.: User's guide to correlation coefficients, Turk. J. Emerg. Med., 18, 91–93, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjem.2018.08.001, 2018. 
Barden, M.: Genetic and metabolic aspects of claw horn lesion aetiopathogenesis in Holstein cows, PhD thesis, University of Liverpool, https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165087 (last access: 20 September 2024), 2022. 
Buch, L. H., Sørensen, A. C., Lassen, J., Berg, P., Eriksson, J.-Å., Jakobsen, J. H., and Sørensen, M. K.: Hygiene-related and feed-related hoof diseases show different patterns of genetic correlations to clinical mastitis and female fertility, J. Dairy Sci., 94, 1540–1551, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3137, 2011. 
Butty, A. M., Chud, T. C. S., Cardoso, D. F., Lopes, L. S. F., Miglior, F., Schenkel, F. S., Cánovas, A, Häfliger, I. M., Drögemüller, C., Stothard, P., Malchiodi, F., and Baes, C. F.: Genome-wide association study between copy number variants and hoof health traits in Holstein dairy cattle, J. Dairy Sci., 104, 8050–8061, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19879, 2021. 
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Short summary
Lameness is a significant cow welfare issue, and it is directly linked to claw health. Large variation in the recording, identification, and management of claw lesions adds to the complexity of finding sustainable solutions. Phenotypic correlations and heritability estimates found in this study indicate that claw lesion data have the potential to be used for genetic evaluation of hoof health; therefore, simplification and standardisation of data collection should be encouraged.
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