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Prevalence of lameness in commercial dairy flocks of Chios sheep in Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

A. Gelasaki*
Affiliation:
Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
G. Valergakis
Affiliation:
Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
G. Arsenos
Affiliation:
Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
G. Banos
Affiliation:
Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Extract

Sheep lameness is a major welfare concern as well as a challenge for sheep farmers because it is associated with reduced production and economic losses. The etiology of lameness can be either of environmental origin associated with housing, nutritional and genetic factors, or associated with the physiological changes during the productive life of sheep. Although, there is now a large body of research studies about lameness in meat producing sheep, such information in the literature regarding dairy sheep is very limited (Grogono-Thomas and Johnston, 1997; Winter, 2004). The Greek sheep industry is mainly based on milk production and is characterised by the recent establishment of many large, commercially run flocks. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of lameness (total number of cases at a given time) in such flocks of Chios sheep and to obtain data concerning the risk factors and type of management in relation to lameness.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2008

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References

Grogono-Thomas, R. and Johnston, A.M. 1997. A study of ovine lameness. MAFF Final Report. MAFF open contract OC59 45K. London, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.Google Scholar
Winter, A. 2004. Lameness in sheep, The Crowood Press Ltd. Wiltshire, UK p.p. 6–8.Google Scholar