Prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia. The sample population was 251 lactating cows from 8 farms assessed for lameness and claw lesions by locomotion scoring and claw assessment respectively while specific animal-based measures were hypothesized as cow-level risk factors. The Wilcoxon rank test and logistic regression were applied to assess the prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and association with potential risk factors, respectively. The prevalence of lameness was 19.1% ranging from 10.0 to 33.3% while 31.1% of cows had claw lesions and ranged from 16.3–40%. Claw lesions were recorded in 87.5% of the lame cows with highest being those affected with sole lesions (54.2%) and white line disease (61.2%). Overall, the occurrence of overgrown claws, sole lesions, white line disease, and digital dermatitis were 37, 18.2, 10.9, and 8.3%, respectively. More than one claw lesion per cow was present in 71.8% of the affected cows. Lameness was associated with early lactation (OR = 3.3; 95% CI 2–7), injured hocks (OR = 4.8; 95% CI 5-17), and dirty legs hygiene (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.3-6.2), whereas presence of claw lesions was associated with dirty legs hygiene (OR = 4.7; 95% CI 4-11) and overgrown claw (OR = 2.7; 95% CI 1.4-5.3). To reduce the prevalence of lameness, farmers need to improve the management of cows with overgrown claw, injured hocks, and cleanliness by establishing routine claw trimming and efficient stall design.

Impact of Nutrients on the Hoof Health in Cattle

“…A study conducted in the United Kingdom of seasonally grazed cows showed that the four most common lesions reported by veterinarians were sole ulcer (15.9%), white line disease (15.5%), digital dermatitis (6.7%), and interdigital phlegmon (6.2%) [ 46 ]. The study by Sadiq et al [ 13 ] reported hoof lesions in 87.5% of cows with the highest incidence in cows affected by single lesions (54.2%) and white line disease (61.2%).…”

“…Nutrition is a significant factor affecting the healthy growth of the hoof horn [ 4 ]. The composition of the feed ration significantly affects the growth, development, and health of the hooves [ 13 , 26 , 72 , 73 ]. Research has shown that some of the components of the feed ration (minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids) play a substantial role in the structural integrity of the hooves [ 1 , 73 ].…”

“…Lameness is currently one of the most critical problems in dairy farming, affecting animal health and welfare [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Lameness is described as a clinical symptom, which is recognizable by a change in locomotion, usually associated with lesions of the pelvic limbs.…”

“…Lameness is described as a clinical symptom, which is recognizable by a change in locomotion, usually associated with lesions of the pelvic limbs. More than 90% of diagnosed lesions affect the distal part of the limb [ 11 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]; however, the resulting lesions are not only a welfare problem, but they also affect production and profit [ 8 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]. Dairy cows that are affected by limb diseases have lower dry matter intake and milk yield [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], reduced fertility [ 3 , 4 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], and they have an increased risk of culling [ 3 , 4 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , ...…”

The Impact of Lameness on Dairy Cattle Welfare: Growing Need for Objective Methods of Detecting Lame Cows and Assessment of Associated Pain

“…These conditions are multifactorial, as supporting evidence suggest the interplay between rumen acidosis laminitis complex, prepartum metabolic, and hormonal changes affecting the stability of the pedal bone and suspensory apparatus [14,15], as well as biomechanical reaction at the claw-floor interface [16]. In addition, animal-based measures such as body condition loss, reduced thickness of the digital cushion (DC) [17], injured hock, and overgrown claw have been associated with increased odds of CHDLs [18,19].…”