Evaluation of subclinical laminitis in a dairy herd and observations on associated nutritional and management factors

Abstract

The hind claws of 10 heifers, 10 second-calf cows, and 10 mature cows in the University of Saskatchewan's dairy herd were examined on four consecutive occasions, four and two months before calving, at calving, and two months after calving. A high prevalence of haemorrhages was observed in the sole of the claws, and these lesions were most prevalent near calving; the haemorrhages were detected in the heifers up to four months before calving. After calving, the haemorrhages tended to disappear rapidly from the claws of the heifers, but no such recovery was evident in the second calvers and mature cows. A scoring system for sole haemorrhages was developed, and the different scores were linked with sole ulcer (pododermatitis circumscripta), toe ulcer, white zone lesions, and heel erosion. Factors associated with nutrition and management, such as rapid rearing (average daily weight gain from birth to breeding greater than 800 g), the sudden introduction into the dry group after they had been confirmed pregnant, confrontation by dominant cows, and housing on concrete in a cubicle system appeared to play a role in the occurrence of haemorrhages in the claws of heifers well before calving.

Review: Behaviour and its role in the nutritional management of the growing dairy heifer

“…Unfortunately, limit feeding does pose behavioural concerns for dairy heifers. found that limit feeding reduced eating and lying time, resulting in animals spending more time standing while not eating, a known risk factor for lameness (Greenough and Vermunt 1991). These researchers also found that limit feeding increased vocalization levels in heifers , as well as increased the amount of aggressive 'reaching' to acquire feed .…”

Effect of floor on lameness in crossbred dairy Cow: a Review

“…Proportion of claw lesions in hind feet was found as high as 88% out of which 65% were in the lateral claw . Furthermore, lesions in the lateral claws were three times more severe than in the medial claws (Greenough and Vermunt, 1991 Reports on the prevalence of claw horn lesions, mainly from European herds showed that over 80% of animals were affected (Bergsten, 1994) …”

Effect of genetic group and feed system on locomotion score, clinical lameness and hoof disorders of pasture-based Holstein–Friesian cows

“…Locomotion score data between calving and dry off or removal of the study were retained for analysis. Analysis of locomotion score data was undertaken for each of the six gait aspects individually as well as for the mean locomotion score calculated as the arithmetic Score adapted from Greenough and Vermunt (1991). 4 Score of 5 at the different lesions types had a small representation in the data, therefore was grouped with category four in the analysis.…”

“…white line area and sole area) using a modification of the six zones from Greenough and Vermunt (1991) was used. In brief, white line area corresponds to zones one to three, while sole area corresponds to zones four to six used by Greenough and Vermunt (1991). The scoring system used to indicate the severity of the lesions is explained in Table 3.…”

“…For the sole haemorrhage scoring, a compartmentalised recording methodology of two areas per claw (i.e. white line area and sole area) using a modification of the six zones from Greenough and Vermunt (1991) was used. In brief, white line area corresponds to zones one to three, while sole area corresponds to zones four to six used by Greenough and Vermunt (1991).…”