Associations of cow-level factors with the risk of poor hygiene in cows housed in free-stall and tie-stall barns

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify cow-level factors associated with poor body hygiene. Cows (n=2644) from 68 commercial dairy herds [free-stall (n=43); tie-stall (n=25)] in Ontario, Canada were enrolled. Cows were hygiene scored on each of 3 visits (7-d apart). Older cows were at higher risk of having a dirty udder and dirty upper legs and flanks in free-stall barns and younger cows were at higher risk of having dirty upper legs and flanks in tie-stall barns. Higher days in milk was associated with better hygiene for cows housed in both free-stall or tie-stall barns.