CC BY 4.0 UnportedDemba, S.Hoffmann, G.Ammon, C.Rose-Meierhöfer, S.2020-07-132020-07-132018https://doi.org/10.34657/3501https://oa.tib.eu/renate/handle/123456789/4872The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the severity of hyperkeratosis (HK) in the teats of dairy cows can be assessed by a dielectric measurement. The study focused on surveying the occurrence of hyperkeratosis in a total of 241 teats of lactating dairy cows. A scoring system consisting of four categories was used to macroscopically assess the severity of HK. Additionally, the dielectric constant (DC) of all teats with milkability was measured in a double iteration with the MoistureMeterD (Delfin Technologies, Kuopio, Finland) on four different days. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient revealed a negative correlation between the DC and HK score (rs = −0.55 to −0.36). The results of the regression analysis showed that the DC values differed significantly between healthy teat ends (≤2) and teat ends with HK (≥3). Thus, the non-invasive measurement of DC provides a promising method of objectively assessing the occurrence and severity of HK.enghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/590PermittivityRegression analysisSensorsWater contentDairy cowDielectric measurementsLactating dairy cowsNegative correlationNon- invasive measurementsScoring systemsSpearman rank correlationTeat end hyperkeratosisIterative methodsanimalbovineepidermolytic hyperkeratosisfemaleFinlandgenetic procedureslactationpathophysiologyphysiologyregression analysisudderveterinary medicineAnimalsBiosensing TechniquesCattleFemaleFinlandHyperkeratosis, EpidermolyticLactationMammary Glands, AnimalRegression AnalysisDairy cowDielectric constantSensorTeat end hyperkeratosisWater contentArticle