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Griffiths BE, Barden M, Anagnostopoulos A, Wilson JP, Lamprou E, Tulley W, Bedford C, Psifidi A, Banos G, Oikonomou G. A prospective cohort study of factors associated with the digital cushion thickness in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:7230-7244. [PMID: 38788843 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Key factors such as stage of lactation, parity, and body fat reserves have been associated with the digital cushion thickness (DCT), however, there are discrepancies between the results of previously published studies. The objective of this study was to examine the association of stage of lactation, body fat reserves, parity, and lesion incidence with DCT in a large cohort of intensively monitored cows. Across 4 UK farms, 2,352 cows were prospectively enrolled and assessed at 4 time points: before calving (T1-Precalving), immediately after calving (T2-Calving), in early lactation (T3-Early), and in late lactation (T4-Late). At each time point, BCS was recorded, the presence of sole lesions (sole ulcers and sole hemorrhage) and white line lesions was assessed by veterinarians, and an ultrasound image was taken to retrospectively measure the backfat thickness (BFT) in the pelvic region and the digital cushion on the hind left lateral claw. Mixed effects multivariable linear regression models, with the cow as a random effect, were fit to examine the association between the explanatory variables and DCT. The explanatory variables tested were farm, parity, stage of lactation, BCS, BFT, height, the presence of a lesion at the time of measurement, the chronicity of a lesion during early lactation, the predicted maximum daily milk yield, and the rate of milk production rise in early lactation. Stage of lactation and farm were both associated with DCT; however, an interaction was present, and this DCT pattern of change was farm-dependent. Two distinct patterns emerged; one indicated the nadir to occur shortly after calving, the other indicated the nadir to occur during early lactation. Neither BFT nor BCS were significantly associated with DCT. Heifers displayed thinner digital cushions compared with multiparous cows; however, this effect was dependent on the stage of lactation, with heifers having a thinner digital cushion up until late lactation, by which time DCT was commensurate with multiparous animals. Sole lesions and white line lesions at the time of measurement were associated with DCT (sole lesion: estimate = -0.07 mm, 95% CI = -0.14-0.00; white line lesion: estimate = 0.28 mm, 95% CI = 0.15-0.42).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany E Griffiths
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew Barden
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Alkiviadis Anagnostopoulos
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - James P Wilson
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Evangelos Lamprou
- Department of Animal Production, School of Animal Bioscience, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens 11855, Greece
| | - William Tulley
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Cherrill Bedford
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Androniki Psifidi
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Banos
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Oikonomou
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
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Fitzsimmonds HM, Fishwick J, Mahendran S. Survey assessing foot trimmer involvement in managing lameness in UK beef cattle. Vet Rec 2024; 195:e4151. [PMID: 38959251 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cattle lameness is a significant welfare and economic problem facing the livestock industry. Published research has investigated foot trimming practices in dairy herds, but little is known about the practices in beef herds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain information about the current practices of professional cattle foot trimmers concerning beef cattle within the UK. METHODS An online survey comprising 16 questions was created using the Joint Information Systems Committee platform. The survey was open for 3 months. RESULTS There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the proportions of dairy cattle and beef cattle receiving preventative foot trims. Digital dermatitis was the most commonly recorded cause of lameness when a lame beef animal was trimmed by the respondents, followed by white line disease. A thematic analysis of foot trimmers' opinions of barriers to engagement on beef farms is presented, in addition to their opinions on veterinary involvement with beef lameness. LIMITATIONS Distribution bias may have affected the results, as the survey was distributed online with support from the Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board and the National Association of Cattle Hoof Trimmers. The percentage of foot trimmers not affiliated with either professional body is not known. CONCLUSION Further research on the impact of lameness on suckler and finishing cattle, including investigations into preventative actions to reduce lameness in beef systems, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Fitzsimmonds
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - John Fishwick
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - Sophie Mahendran
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
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Salem SE, Refaai W, Abd El Raouf M, Hamed MA, Ezzeldein SA, Eisa EF, Mesalam A, Maddox TW, Monir A. An abattoir study of the prevalence of foot lesions and claw measurements in water buffalo in Egypt. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:29. [PMID: 38245728 PMCID: PMC10799483 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-03877-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lameness has been associated with compromised animal welfare and reduced productivity in dairy cattle herds worldwide. However, little is known about the prevalence of claw lesions in the dairy buffalo population in Egypt. Furthermore, the optimum measurements for claw trimming in buffalo are unknown. A cross-sectional cadaver study was conducted where 135 pair buffalo hind feet were collected from 4 slaughterhouses and examined for the presence of claw lesions. The proportion and associated 95% confidence interval (CI) of each type of lesion were calculated. A separate set of healthy claws (n = 26) underwent ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). The agreement between US and CT measurements was assessed using Passing-Bablok regression and intraclass correlation coefficient. The CT measurements were used to calculate trimming recommendations. RESULTS At least one lesion was identified in 242 claws (89.6%, 95% CI = 85.4-93.0). In healthy claws, poor to moderate agreement was identified between US and CT measurements which could be due a sample size of the study. The average ± standard deviation (SD) minimum recommended external wall length of the lateral and medial claws in heifers was 7.1 ± 0.36 cm and 7.5 ± 0.35 cm, respectively. The average ± SD minimum recommended external wall length in buffaloes over five years of age was 8.2 ± 0.27 cm and 8.4 ± 0.39 cm for the lateral and medial claws, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The study found a high prevalence of claw lesions in buffalo in Egypt, the clinical significance of which requires further elucidation. Recommended measurements will help guide claw trimming in buffalo to minimise lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shebl E Salem
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
| | - Walid Refaai
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Mustafa Abd El Raouf
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Hamed
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, 81528, Egypt
| | - Shimaa A Ezzeldein
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Eslam F Eisa
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Ayman Mesalam
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Thomas W Maddox
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Science, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Ahmed Monir
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
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Robcis R, Ferchiou A, Berrada M, Ndiaye Y, Herman N, Lhermie G, Raboisson D. Cost of lameness in dairy herds: An integrated bioeconomic modeling approach. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:2519-2534. [PMID: 36894430 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Foot disorders are costly health disorders in dairy farms, and their prevalence is related to several factors such as breed, nutrition, and farmer's management strategy. Very few modeling approaches have considered the dynamics of foot disorders and their interaction with farm management strategies within a holistic farm simulation model. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost of foot disorders in dairy herds by simulating strategies for managing lameness. A dynamic and stochastic simulation model (DairyHealthSim) was used to simulate the herd dynamics, reproduction management, and health events. A specific module was built for lameness and related herd-level management strategies. Foot disorder occurrences were simulated with a base risk for each etiology [digital dermatitis (DD), interdigital dermatitis, interdigital phlegmon, sole ulcer (SU), white line disease (WLD)]. Two state machines were implemented in the model: the first was related to the disease-induced lameness score (from 1 to 5), and the second concerned DD-state transitions. A total of 880 simulations were run to represent the combination of the following 5 scenarios: (1) housing (concrete vs. textured), (2) hygiene (2 different scraping frequencies), (3) the existence of preventive trimming, (4) different thresholds of DD prevalence detected and from which a collective footbath is applied to treat DD, and (5) farmer's ability to detect lameness (detection rate). Housing, hygiene, and trimming scenarios were associated with risk factors applied for each foot disorder etiologies. The footbath and lameness detection scenarios both determined the treatment setup and the policy of herd observance. The economic evaluation outcome was the gross margin per year. A linear regression model was run to estimate the cost per lame cow (lameness score ≥3), per case of DD and per week of a cow's medium lameness duration. The bioeconomic model reproduced a lameness prevalence varying from 26 to 98% depending on the management scenario, demonstrating a high capacity of the model to represent the diversity of the field situations. Digital dermatitis represented half of the total lameness cases, followed by interdigital dermatitis (28%), SU (19%), WLD (13%), and interdigital phlegmon (4%). The housing scenarios dramatically influenced the prevalence of SU and WLD, whereas scraping frequency and threshold for footbath application mainly determined the presence of DD. Interestingly, the results showed that preventive trimming allowed a better reduction in lameness prevalence than spending time on early detection. Scraping frequency was highly associated with DD occurrence, especially with a textured floor. The regression showed that costs were homogeneous (i.e., did not change with lameness prevalence; marginal cost equals average cost). A lame cow and a DD-affected cow cost €307.50 ± 8.40 (SD) and €391.80 ± 10.0 per year on average, respectively. The results also showed a cost of €12.10 ± 0.36 per week-cow lameness. The present estimation is the first to account for interactions between etiologies and for the complex DD dynamics with all the M-stage transitions, bringing a high level of accuracy to the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolphe Robcis
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France, ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France.
| | - Ahmed Ferchiou
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France, ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Mehdi Berrada
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France, ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Youba Ndiaye
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France, ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Herman
- VetEconomics, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Guillaume Lhermie
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France, ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France; Department of Production Animal Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Didier Raboisson
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France, ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France
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Arunvipas P, Setkit T, Wongsanit J, Rukkwamsuk T, Homwong N, Sangmalee A. Effect of claw blocks on the healing duration and lesion severities of claw lesions in lame cows in Western Thailand. Vet World 2023; 16:258-263. [PMID: 37042010 PMCID: PMC10082725 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.258-263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Lameness is a major complication in dairy cattle affecting health and milk production. Several factors are found to contribute to this condition and specific treatments are required, including the process of claw trimming. The elevation of the claw, such as with the application of a claw block, was reported to be beneficial in the more severe cases. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of a claw block on claw lesions of lame cows in dairy farms in Western Thailand.
Materials and Methods: Locomotion scores of 376 dairy cows were determined by a veterinarian using a scale of 1–5 (1 = normal; 5 = severely lame) at the time of the visit. Cows with a score of 3 or greater were defined as clinically lame. In total, 134 clinically lame cows from 11 dairy farms in the Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces were included in the analysis. Claw lesions included a white line abscess, bruised sole, sole ulcer, sole abscess, white line separate, and double soles. Wooden or rubber claw blocks were applied to the unaffected claw of the same hoof as the injured claw of 116 cows, which were classified as the treatment cases, and 18 cows were left untreated and classified as the control cases. Each cow was checked on every week of the healing process for 2 months unless the cow was culled earlier. Survival analysis was based on the Kaplan–Meier estimator and Cox Proportional Hazard regression.
Results: The median healing time for lame cows with and without claw blocks was 21 and 36 days, respectively. After adjusting for the lesion severity and type, the lame cows with and without a claw block had hazard ratios of 2.16 and 3.08, respectively. The healing times between the four lesion types in cows with a claw block were not significantly different. The healing time was longer in lame cows, with a severity score of 4.
Conclusion: The results from this study reveal that the treatment of lame cows with claw blocks promoted the healing capacity of claw lesions after claw trimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pipat Arunvipas
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Teerachad Setkit
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Jaturong Wongsanit
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Theera Rukkwamsuk
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Nitipong Homwong
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Anawat Sangmalee
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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Sadiq MB, Ramanoon SZ, Shaik Mossadeq WM, Mansor R, Syed-Hussain SS. Treatment protocols for claw horn lesions and their impact on lameness recovery, pain sensitivity, and lesion severity in moderately lame primiparous dairy cows. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1060520. [PMID: 36570514 PMCID: PMC9775860 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1060520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effects of routine treatment protocols for claw horn disruptive lesions (CHDL) on lameness recovery rates, pain sensitivity, and lesion severity in moderately lame primiparous cows. A cohort of first parity cows was recruited from a single commercial dairy herd and randomly allocated to five treatments, comprising four lame groups (LTNB, LTN, LTB, and LT) and a single group non-lame group. Eligibility criteria for the lame cows included a first lameness score (score 3/5), presence of CHDL on a single foot, good body condition score of 3.0 to 3.5, and no history of previous lameness. LTNB received a combination of therapeutic trim, administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID; Ketoprofen) for 3 days, and hoof block on the healthy claw. Both LTN and LTB received the same treatment as LTNB without hoof block and NSAID, respectively. LT received only a therapeutic trim, whereas non-LT (negative control) received either a therapeutic or preventive trim. Pain sensitivity was assessed using the limb withdrawal reflex while lesion severity was recorded using the International Committee Animal Records (ICAR) Atlas guide. The enrolled cows were observed at weekly intervals, and the primary outcomes were assessed 28 days after treatment. The number (%) of recovered cows was 15 of 20 (75%), 13 of 21 (61.9%), 6 of 14 (42.9%), and 6 of 15 (40%) for LTNB, LTN, LTB, and LT, respectively. LTNB had significantly higher odds of successful treatment (OR = 4.5; 95% 1.1-19.1) compared to LT. Pain sensitivity based on limb withdrawal reflex was absent in a significantly higher number of cows (15/20; 75.0%) in LTNB compared to LTB and LT. LTB had a significantly lower lesion severity score in comparison to LTN. Overall, cows with limb withdrawal at day 28 after treatment were less likely (OR = 0.06; 95% CI 0.01-0.24) to develop a non-lame score. In conclusion, the treatment with therapeutic trim, hoof block, and NSAID led to better recovery and reduced pain sensitivity in moderately lame primiparous cows with good BCS compared to those that received only therapeutic trim. Further research on the changes within the hoof capsule following various treatment protocols is needed to elucidate the clinical benefits observed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Babatunde Sadiq
- Department of Farm and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon
- Department of Farm and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia,Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia,*Correspondence: Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon
| | - Wan Mastura Shaik Mossadeq
- Department of Veterinary Pre-Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia,Centre of Excellence (Ruminant), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rozaihan Mansor
- Department of Farm and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia,Centre of Excellence (Ruminant), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sharifah Salmah Syed-Hussain
- Centre of Excellence (Ruminant), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Davis L, Deb K, Siegford J, Ali ABA. Decision tree analysis to evaluate risks associated with lameness on dairy farms with automated milking systems. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.999261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lameness is an endemic disorder causing health problems and production losses in the dairy cow industry. The objective of this study was to identify cow and farm-level factors associated with lameness on Automatic Milking System (AMS) farms, using decision tree analysis to assign probabilities to each input. AMS farms across Canada and Michigan were evaluated to identify the most substantial farm (i.e., stall design, bedding) and cow-level (i.e., BCS, leg injuries) factors associated with prevalence of lameness. To assess lameness, videos of cows were used, and cows with a head bob or noticeable limp were categorized as lame. A decision tree classification model used 1378 data points from 39 pens across 36 farms to predict the value of the target class through “tree function” in MATLAB. The primary classifier was identified as type of stall base, dividing the data set into 3 categories: 1) rubber, sand, or geotextile mat flooring, 2) concrete base, and 3) other types of stall base. Within the first category (class membership (CM) = 976), bedding quantity was the secondary classifier, which was divided by cows standing on ≥2 cm (CM=456) or <2 cm (CM=520) of bedding. Bedding quantity was divided into the third most important classifier of BCS, and cow fit stall width. Cows with BCS of 3.25 to 4.5 (CM=307) were defined as non-lame with an estimated probability (EP) of 0.59, while cows with BCS of 2 to 2.5 (CM=213) were further split by hock lesion incidence. Cows without lesions were defined non-lame (EP=0.93) and cows with lesions were defined lame (EP=0.07). Cows that fit stall width were defined as non-lame (EP=0.66) and cows that did not fit were further divided by the width of the feed alley. Farms with ≥430 cm feed alley were defined as non-lame (EP=0.89), whereas farms with <430 cm feed alley were defined as lame (EP=0.11). Through implementing a novel multifactorial approach of data analysis, we were able to highlight the critical points that can be focused on to enhance farm-level housing and management practices or mitigate or monitor cow-level issues to reduce incidence and severity of lameness in AMS farms.
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Capion N, Cannings ES, Krogh MA. Comparison of claw horn disruption lesions in four dairy herds using two different trimming techniques: A case study. Vet J 2022; 287:105886. [PMID: 36037996 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Claw disorders are a major problem for health, welfare, and economy in dairy production. This retrospective observational study investigated the association between cow-level prevalence of claw horn disruptive lesions and two different trimming methods - the traditional Danish Method (DAM) and the White Line Atlas Method (WLAM). Trimming records from four herds in Denmark over a 4-year period were analysed. Within each herd, claw trimming was performed with the WLAM for the first 2 years, and the DAM for the next 2 years. The data comprised 3316 claw trimmings of 1027 cows with the WLAM and 3898 claw trimmings of 1080 cows with the DAM. The association between claw trimming method and claw lesions was determined using binominal logistic analysis. There were significant differences between trimming methods for sole haemorrhage (odds ratio = 0.44), sole ulcer (odds ratio = 0.42), and white line separation (odds ratio = 0.64), with a lower prevalence during the period of trimming with the WLAM. No significant difference between trimming methods could be found in the occurrence of white line abscess or double sole. The lower prevalence of claw horn disruption lesions found in this study when cows were trimmed with WLAM justifies and necessitates further experimental studies of claw trimming methods to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Capion
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Agrovej 8, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark.
| | - E S Cannings
- Tinglev Dyrehospital, Håndværkersvinget 20, 6360 Tinglev, Denmark
| | - M A Krogh
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
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