Determining the optimal replacement and culling strategy for dairy cows affected by lameness

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article (Regular Paper)

Authors

1 Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Investigador, Depto. de Nutrición Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de M´exico, Estado de M´exico; email: salem@uaemex.mx

Abstract

Lameness is considered the third leading cause of reduced productivity and economic losses in dairy herds, after reproductive disorders and mastitis. The objective of this study was to quantify the economic impact of lameness and determine the optimal herd life and replacement strategy for dairy cows with different production levels using a bio economic optimization model. This study was conducted using data collected from several large industrial dairy farms in Ardabil Province, Iran. A systems analysis approach was employed to decompose the dairy herd economic system into its income and cost components. Subsequently, a bio economic model was developed and simulated using mathematical modeling techniques, and optimization was performed using the Compecon toolbox in MATLAB. Dairy cows were classified according to production level into low-, medium-, and high-producing groups and according to lameness status into healthy, subclinical, and clinical lameness categories. An objective function was defined to maximize the present value of net income generated by a cow and its replacement heifer. The results showed that healthy cows were predominantly represented in the low-producing group, cows with subclinical lameness were more common in the medium-producing group, and cows with clinical lameness were primarily found among high-producing cows. Lameness reduced milk production by 0.16, 0.57, and 0.88 kg per cow per day in low-, medium-, and high-producing cows, respectively. Corresponding cumulative milk yield losses over the study period were estimated at 45, 84, and 66 kg per cow. According to the model results, the present value in the low-producing group increased until the fourth calving and declined thereafter. In contrast, although present value generally decreased with increasing parity in the medium- and high-producing groups, retaining cows remained economically optimal up to the seventh and eighth calving, respectively. The optimal culling and replacement decisions were similar across different lameness statuses within each production level. Furthermore, future economic value was influenced by age, production level, and stage of lactation. The average optimal herd life was estimated to be 4.69 years. Based on this value, the annual replacement rate was calculated at 21.32%, using the inverse of the optimal herd life.

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References

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Available Online from 01 July 2026

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