Environmental factors associated with lameness in dairy cattle

An epidemiological survey of the incidence of different foot diseases causing lameness was undertaken on 80 French dairy farms between 1979 and 1980. A total of 29.5 cases of lesions per 100 cows was recorded in that period, which represents a higher incidence that of clinical mastitis (20.37).

Data concerning the incidence of foot lesions, farm structures, herd management system, feeding and soil characteristics were analysed using the ξ² test of independence and one-way analysis of variance. Results showed that a high incidence of infectious and metabolic foot disorders was associated with loose housing, feeding based on maize silage, absence of a footbath, foot trimming and mineral supplementation.

A relationship was also observed between articular lesions and grass-silage feeding. Tied-housed cows fed hay were less affected. Regular hoof trimming at pasture and a long time spent checking the animals were found to have a positive effect on foot health. A low incidence of foot disorders was also associated with a larger variety in dietary components. A high incidence of lameness was reported in large herds kept on rough floors.     

Prevention and control of lameness in dairy cattle

The prevention and control of lameness are essential if a dairy herd is to return a profit. Breeding, feeding, housing, and management practices are all involved, and errors or omissions in any of these areas can result in catastrophic lameness. An accurate diagnosis and proper treatment are necessary to minimize losses when lameness occurs.     

Prevalence of lameness and of associated claw disorders in Greek dairy cattle industry

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of lameness as well as the prevalence of claw–horn disruptions, abnormal claw shape and dermatitis in lame cows in Greek dairy farms and to evaluate their risk factors. Forty dairy farms were visited twice, during winter and during summer, and the lameness of milking cows was scored using a 5-point scale. In total 760 cows were lame (lameness score ≥ 3) and were further examined to identify macroscopically the claw disorders. The herd size, the trimming and footbathing frequency, the floor surface, the cleanness of the herd, the scraping frequency and the disinfectant used in the footbaths were recorded. The mean lameness prevalence was 18.7% and that of claw disorders observed in the lame cows was 75.4% for abnormal claw shape, 30.2% for dermatitis and 30.6% for claw–horn disruptions. Large herd size and the absence or only once per year trimming were associated with increased risk for the presence of lameness.     

The incidence, cost and factors associated with foot lameness in dairy cattle in south-western Victoria

A survey of 73 dairy farms in south-western Victoria was conducted to assess the cost and mean herd incidence of foot lameness for the period from calving to the end of November, 1985, and to identify the herd, management and environmental factors associated with foot lameness. The mean herd size was 125 cows (range 82 to 220). Lameness occurred in 64 (88%) herds, and the mean herd incidence was 7.0% (range 0.0 to 30.9%). The main clinical signs associated with lameness were the presence of overworn and/or bruised soles, or stones lodged in the interdigital cleft. Factors associated with lameness were: property and herd size, age of cow, bail feeding, voluntary entry into the bails, and features of the farm track including its length, the presence of steep slopes, the type of surface material, presence and treatment of broken sections and maintenance including rolling history. The association of these factors with specific clinical signs was examined. The mean cost was estimated to be $42.90 per lame cow due to loss of production, treatment, the culling or death of lame cows, and extra man hours spent managing lame cows. It was concluded that the site, construction, maintenance and use of the farm track were of major importance to the incidence of lameness in herds in this area and recommendations for reducing lameness are made.     

Effect of wet weather on lameness in dairy cattle

The incidence of lameness in cows recorded by five veterinary practices over one year and one practice over four years was plotted with rainfall and potential soil moisture deficit. Correlation coefficients calculated between lameness, rainfall and potential soil moisture deficit over two-week periods showed the incidence of lameness in summer to be significantly related to the potential soil moisture deficit in the same two-week period and rainfall in the previous two-week period. Differences in patterns of lameness incidence among practices and years were also partly explained by differences in rainfall and potential soil moisture deficit; however, these effects were small compared with those of other factors that affect lameness incidence such as herd size, age and stage of lactation.     

Incidence of lameness requiring veterinary treatment in dairy cattle in Queensland

A survey of the incidence of lesions causing lameness in dairy cattle was conducted by veterinarians in 9 practices in Queensland between November 1984 and July 1985. One hundred and eighty five cases were treated in 83 dairy herds. The average incidence of lameness which required treatment by veterinarians was 2.7 cases per 100 cows per 9 months, with a range of 1.4 to 5.5% in the 9 practices. Foot lesions constituted 83.2% of all lesions; the most common being interdigital necrobacillosis (15%), deep sepsis (8.9%), white line disease (8.4 per cent), axial groove fissure (8.4%), bruised sole (5.6%) and foreign body in the sole/heel (5.6%). Sixty-five per cent of foot lesions occurred in the hind feet and 63% of these lesions occurred in the lateral claw, while 37% of foot lesions occurred in abnormally shaped claws. Limb lesions accounted for the remaining 16.8% of lesions, and 50% of these lesions occurred in the hip and stifle, while trauma was the main cause of limb lesions.     

Review of the relationship between nutrition and lameness in pasture-fed dairy cattle

Lameness of dairy cattle fed predominantly on pasture is increasingly recognised as one of the most costly disease conditions affecting dairy herds in New Zealand and Australia. Numerous risk factors are involved in the aetiology of claw lameness, including environment and factors associated with the conformation of individual cows. The role of nutrition requires further definition. Australasian pastures are characterised by low levels of fibre and effective fibre, rapid rates of fibre degradation, high water content, and high concentrations of rumen degradable protein during the autumn, winter and spring months. Relationships between high-quality vegetative pastures and ruminal acidosis may increase the risk of laminitis, particularly where pasture is supplemented with grains or other feeds containing significant amounts of starch. This article reviews the incidence, prevalence and pathophysiology of ruminal acidosis and laminitis and considers mechanisms by which acidosis may occur in pasture-fed cows. Techniques for diagnosing ruminal acidosis are reviewed, and practical strategies to avoid it are proposed. Currently, there is little information on the incidence and prevalence of ruminal acidosis and laminitis in pasture-fed cattle. The evidence gathered in this review suggests that ruminal acidosis and laminitis should be considered in the aetiology of lameness in pasture-fed dairy herds.     

Promoting farmer engagement and activity in the control of dairy cattle lameness

Many 'influencers' allied to the agricultural industry support farmers to implement management changes that affect animal welfare. Developing approaches to working with farmers that achieve both engagement and subsequently management changes is critical. As an example, the generation of action points and implementation of change to control dairy cattle lameness is reported and discussed here. Action plans were generated on farms receiving both lameness monitoring and intervention support (MS group; n=117) as part of a 3year intervention project. At the start of year 1, MS farmers received action planning advice from a veterinary surgeon, and then at the start of years 2 and 3, farmers generated their own lameness control action plans with facilitator support. Engagement was achieved with 114 MS farmers who generated 692 action points in total. Two hundred and sixteen of these resulted from veterinary advice and 476 were generated by the farmers with facilitator support. In terms of activity, MS farms implemented a mean of 8.22 changes per farm as compared to 6.77 on farms which only received annual lameness monitoring (MO group; n=72). While these levels of change were similar, fewer changes implemented on the MS farms (8.5%) were judged 'likely to increase the risk of lameness' compared to the MO farms (16.5%). Farmers generated substantial numbers of lameness control action points for their own farms aided by a facilitator and, crucially, veterinary or facilitator involvement reduced changes that were likely to compromise lameness control.     

Working towards a reduction in cattle lameness: 1. Understanding barriers to lameness control on dairy farms

On 222 dairy farms, the farmer’s perception of the scale of the herd lameness problem was compared with the prevalence detected by observation of the milking herd, and a questionnaire explored the barriers to lameness reduction. Ninety percent of farmers did not perceive lameness to be a major problem on their farm, although the average prevalence of lameness was 36%. For 62% of the sample, lameness was not the top priority for efforts made to improve herd health. Time and labour were important limiting factors for lameness control activities and financial constraints prevented farmers taking action on advice in 30% of cases. Farmers’ understanding the implications of lameness for the farm business was limited. Lameness reduction is restricted by farmers’ perception of lameness, but also by time, labour and finance; these issues need to be addressed at the industry level to support animal welfare improvement.     

Herd-level factors associated with longevity in Swedish dairy cattle

The aim of this study was to find herd-related factors associated with average longevity in Swedish dairy herds. Herds with short or long (bottom or top quartile) total life (from birth, TL, 841 and 839 herds) or productive life (from first calving, PL, 799 and 821 herds) were chosen. A logistic regression model was used to estimate associations between herd type and herd-related factors. Large herds and herds increasing in size by more than 50% were less likely to have long PL. High average milk yield was not a risk factor for short PL, but herds with the lowest yield were more likely to be long PL herds. These herds had lower estimated breeding values for milk, most likely due to a slower herd turnover rate. A high proportion of cows culled early in first lactation had a large effect on the probability of being a short PL herd.     

Foot lameness in dairy goats

An outbreak of foot lameness in a dairy herd of 170 goats is described. The herd, that was kept mostly indoors, was attended between December 2006 and November 2007. During this period, 15% of the goats showed lameness with foot lesions and 24% of the goats showed lameness without foot lesions. The foot lesions consisted of cracks and erosions on the horn of the bulbs of the heel that in most cases extended along the internal side of the axial hoof wall. The clinical diagnosis was interdigital dermatitis. Annual milk production was lower in lame goats compared to those that were not lame (P < 0.05). Furthermore, annual milk yield was significantly affected by the type of foot disease present and was significantly lower in cases with foot lesions than in the animals that were not lame (P < 0.05) and also in the lame goats without foot lesions (P < 0.05).     

Abnormal bone development and lameness associated with secondary copper deficiency in young cattle.

Lameness in a group of 5- to 12-month-old calves was found to be clinically, radiographically, and pathologically associated with abnormal bone development of the distal growth plates of the metacarpus and metatarsus. Copper concentrations in serum and liver were low. Serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase values were normal. In pasture forage samples, sulfate, zinc, and molybdenum concentrations were high, whereas copper, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations were normal. Red blood cell (RBC) counts and hemoglobin values were within normal limits. Radiographic findings included a widened zone of cartilage and lipping of the medial and lateral areas of the physeal plate. Histologic findings included focal widenings of the growth plate consisting of tongues of uncalcified cartilage.     

Risk factors associated with hemorrhagic bowel syndrome in dairy cattle

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors associated with hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) among dairy cattle in the United States and identify characteristics of HBS in individual cows. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, population-based survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: A stratified random sample of 1,013 dairy operations with > or = 30 cows located in 21 states. PROCEDURE: Information on management and animal health-related topics was collected with a questionnaire. RESULTS: HBS was estimated to have been observed on 9.1% of operations during the preceding 5 years and on 5.1% of operations during the preceding 12 months. Factors found in multivariable analysis to be associated with the occurrence of HBS during the preceding 12 months were large herd size, administration of bovine somatotropin, and routine use of milk urea nitrogen concentration to determine ration composition. Use of pasture as part of the lactating cow ration during the growing season was associated with decreased odds of HBS in operations with rolling herd average milk production < or = 20,000 lb, whereas in operations with higher milk production, use of pasture was not associated with occurrence of HBS. For individual cows with signs consistent with HBS, the third lactation was the median of the parity distribution and the median time between parturition and the onset of clinical signs was 104 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that management practices implemented to achieve high milk production may increase the risk of developing HBS in dairy cattle. Increased consumption of a high-energy diet seems to be the most plausible common pathway for all of the risk factors that have been described.     

Changes in milk yield in dairy cows associated with metabolic and reproductive disease and lameness

A study was undertaken of 1594 lactations occurring in 732 British Friesian, Ayrshire and Holstein crossbred cows. One thousand two-hundred of these lactations were used to consider the association between the occurrence of hypocalcaemia, ketosis, hypomagnesaemia, dystocia, retained placenta, endometritis and lameness and changes in milk yield. A statistical technique was applied which used the relationship between pairs of consecutive lactations in the same cow to assess losses in milk yield associated with disease relative to an individual's own potential. Seven hundred and seventy-two pairs of consecutive lactations from the 1200 lactations were available for this purpose.Average significant reductions of 6–7% in peak milk yield occurred in lactations in which the cow had a retained placenta or ketosis. Cows which had ketosis showed a slower decline in milk yield in later lactation and there was no overall significant difference in 305-day milk yield, However, for cows which had a retained placenta, there was no corresponding reduction in rate of decline, and 305-day milk yield was on average 7% lower. There were no significant associations between hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, dystocia or endometritis and milk yield.Cases of lameness, which occurred during a 20-week period following peak yield and were mainly associated with lesions involving the interdigital cleft and sole or white line sites of the claw, were more common in cows which had higher than average peak milk yields. Heel lesions appeared to be associated with lower than average 305-day yields, but this may have been due to variations in incidence with season.