The effect of feeding grass silage in early pregnancy on claw health during first lactation

Two groups of eight Holstein-Friesian heifers were fed either a grass-silag e-based diet (S) or one based on meadow hay supplemented with 1.8 kg/day ba rley concentrate mix (H) during cubicle housing as young stock (and in earl y pregnancy). Lameness and claw lesion development were monitored from appr oximately four weeks before until 20 weeks after first calving. No signific ant difference was found between S and H for claw conformation or horn grow th and wear. Both groups showed net wear immediately after calving. The pre valence of poor locomotion and the extent of lesion development 20 weeks af ter calving (when they were highest) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher i n S than H. It was concluded that feeding grass silage to young stock may d eleteriously affect subsequent claw health and that this risk faster requir es further study. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.