Short term effect of treating claw horn lesions in dairy cattle on their locomotion, activity and milk yield

Abstract

The immediate effect on dairy cow mobility, daily activity and milk yield following treatment for claw horn disease was examined in 306 lame cows located on four Cheshire dairy farms over twelve months. The daily activity and milk yield of all cows in these herds was recorded on computer using pedometers and in-parlour milk flow meters. Lame cows identified by stockmen were assessed subjectively by locomotion score, then restrained and their claws examined to identify the predominant lesion present. Those with locomotion scores ≥2.5 that presented with sole ulcer, haemorrhage and bruising, or white line disease were studied. Claws of the affected limb were trimmed by one paraprofessional claw trimmer using the five-step Dutch method and the affected claw unloaded either by trimming or application of a block to the healthy digit: those on the contra-lateral limb were trimmed similarly. The same observer repeated the locomotion score assessment seven days later: trimming reduced the proportion of lame cows (score ≥3) by 55% and those with poor gait (score ≤3 ≥2.5) by 49%, and the proportion of all cows not lame after trimming was 51% (χ 2 4.94: P≤0.001). Night time activity levels increased from 76 to 81 steps/hour on day 2 after treatment (P<0.05) but this was not maintained: daily milk yields fell by 2%. Using univariate mixed models, year and season, parity and farm all had significant effects on locomotion and activity levels. This treatment for claw horn disease in lame dairy cows improved their immediate health and welfare.

Claw Trimming as a Lameness Management Practice and the Association with Welfare and Production in Dairy Cows

“…A modified functional trimming method focused on the achievement of correct claw angles and weight bearing reduced the risk of SH, SU, double sole and WLD during lactation [18,43]. The application of corrective CT for CHDL led to significant decrease in the proportion of lame cows [44] and those with poor gait (locomotion score; LS < 3) [45,46]. Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of early detection and treatment of CHDL in dairy cows [20,47,48].…”

“…As shown in Table 2, several studies have attempted to investigate the associations between corrective CT and behavior in dairy cows affected with specific claw lesions [45,83,84]. The findings can be divided into those showing the short- [5,24,45,84] and long-term impact [85]. For the purpose of this review, short term refers to observational period ranging from days to 2 weeks post CT, whereas study duration greater than 2 weeks to 1 complete lactation (305 DIM) was considered as long-term.…”

Investigating the Relationship between Claw Disorders and Milk Yield before and after Claw Trimming Using Modified Dutch Method in Three Egyptian Dairy Farms

“…Overall, we could speculate that ~ 65% efficiency of claw trimming using modified Dutch method for reducing lameness and relevant milk loss was noticed. However, there is only one published data describing the immediate effect on milk yield following treatment of claw horn disease using Dutch method (Montgomery et al, 2012), the results of this study indicated that correct claw trimming technique for treating digital horn lesions is most beneficial and pronounced on activity levels during the night-time period. To achieve this, effective claw trimming should shorten the length of the dorsal wall of the lateral claw in particular, and ensures the initial contact and impact force of the claw with the ground occurs more at the heel (Singh, 1993;Montgomery et al, 2012).…”

“…However, there is only one published data describing the immediate effect on milk yield following treatment of claw horn disease using Dutch method (Montgomery et al, 2012), the results of this study indicated that correct claw trimming technique for treating digital horn lesions is most beneficial and pronounced on activity levels during the night-time period. To achieve this, effective claw trimming should shorten the length of the dorsal wall of the lateral claw in particular, and ensures the initial contact and impact force of the claw with the ground occurs more at the heel (Singh, 1993;Montgomery et al, 2012). Other benefits of claw trimming are to reduce points of maximal pressure away from the sole heel junction, and abaxial white line and adjacent sole, redistributing that pressure somewhat to the stable claw (Meyer et al, 2007).…”

“…Foot rot and foot warts were associated with smaller decreases in production than sole ulcers or abscesses in one herd. In the other herd, cows with foot abscesses and foot rot tended to have larger decreases in milk production (Warnick et al, 2001) while rapid treatment of claw horn disease in lame dairy cows improved their immediate health and welfare immediately and probably reduce milk lost (Montgomery et al, 2012;Green et al, 2010).…”