Relationships between type of hoof lesion and behavioral signs of lameness in Holstein cows housed in Canadian tiestall facilities

Evaluation of 'In-Parlour Scoring' (IPS) to Detect Lameness in Dairy Cows during Milking

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of 'In-Parlour Scoring' (IPS) as an alternative to locomotion scoring in herringbone, side-by-side, and tandem milking parlours in Austria. Between January and May 2023, a total of 990 observations were conducted on 495 cows across eleven Austrian dairy farms by two investigators working simultaneously but independently of each other. The observation criteria included shifting weight, claw conformation, and obvious disorders of the distal limb. Locomotion scoring was conducted on all cows within 24 h of assessment in the milking parlour using a scale of 1 to 5 (LCS 1: not lame; LCS 5: severely lame). Functional hoof trimming was performed within ten days after IPS. The following indicators were identified as useful for predicting lameness (LCS ≥ 3): shifting weight, abnormal weight distribution, swollen heel, hock joint or interdigital space, skin lesion on the lateral hock, claw position score, digital dermatitis lesions, short dorsal claw wall, and hyperextension of one claw. The reliability of the individual indicators for intra- and inter-rater assessment exhibited considerable variation ((weighted) kappa values: -0.0020-0.9651 and -0.0037-1.0, respectively). The specificity and sensitivity for the prediction of lame cows were calculated to be ≥ 96% and ≤ 24%, respectively. It was demonstrated that a one-time IPS has limited suitability for lameness assessment on Austrian dairy farms with herringbone, side-by-side, and tandem milking parlours.

Benchmarking claw health across three dairy cow breeds in 508 dairy farms using numerical claw health indicators

Currently, prevalence and incidence of claw lesions are used as parameters for benchmarking claw health. The aims of this study were to create a benchmarking system for claw health utilizing the claw health indicators Farm-Claw-Score (FCS) for the herd and Cow-Claw-Score (CCS) for the individual animal, and to benchmark claw health of the three predominant dairy cattle breeds in Austria. Claw health data from 17,642 cows from 508 Austrian dairy farms were analyzed. The CCS and FCS were calculated based on recorded claw lesions and their three severity levels using geometrically weighted scoring. The FCS of each of the dairy farms was classified into five percentile thresholds (P10, P25, P50, P75, P90), with the FCS calculated using the median value of CCS in each herd. Furthermore, claw health was benchmarked for three breeds (Fleckvieh, Holstein, Brown Swiss cows), using claw lesion prevalences and CCS values. When the median FCS was calculated, dairy farms in P50 and below had an FCS of 20.0, indicating very good claw health. However, P90 farms showed an FCS-MEDIAN of 67.5. Evaluation of the prevalences of the 14 claw lesions considered and the CCS values revealed that Fleckvieh cows (CCS-MEDIAN: 24.0), followed closely by Holstein cows (CCS-MEDIAN: 22.7) had significantly poorer claw health (P < 0.0001) compared to Brown Swiss cows (CCS-MEDIAN: 12.0). The use of CCS and FCS as primary claw health indicators allowed for a quick assessment of the current state of an individual cow and a dairy herd in a benchmarking system. Detailed information on the claw health of each animal and the dairy herd can be easily reviewed by examining diagnosis lists that display prevalences, particularly those related to lameness, in the respective electronic documentation systems.

Sensitivity and specificity of mobility scoring for the detection of foot lesions in pasture-based Irish dairy cows

Lameness is an important production disease in dairy cows worldwide and has detrimental effects on cows' welfare, production, and reproductive performance, thus affecting the sustainability of dairy farming. Timely and effective detection of lameness allows for effective treatment, minimizing progression of disease, and maximizing the prognosis of recovery. Mobility scoring (MSc) is a 4 point (0-3) visual lameness scoring system that is the industry standard in several countries. However, few studies have examined the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of MSc to detect foot lesions. The aim of this observational study was to determine the Se and Sp of MSc to detect foot lesions in dairy cattle in a pasture-based system. Five hundred ninety-five primi- and multiparous cows were randomly selected from 12 commercial Irish dairy farms and recruited for the study. Recruited cows were mobility scored and passed through a foot-paring crate where all 4 feet were lifted for examination. The team recorded the anatomical location and severity of any foot lesions present based on appearance only. Then, based on the type and severity of the lesions present, cows were classified according to 3 case definitions case definition 1: Any lesion present; case definition 2: Moderate lesions present (excluding minor lesions expected to have a low probability of affecting gait); and case definition 3: Severe lesions present (only including lesions most likely to result in a detectable gait abnormality). Sensitivity and Sp of MSc was calculated based on a threshold of MSc ≥2, defined as impaired (MSc = 2) or severely impaired (MSc = 3) mobility for each of the 3 case definitions, at the overall level and disaggregated by parity. The overall cow-level lesion prevalence based on the case definition 1 was 0.54 with significant between-herd variation. The overall Se and Sp of MSc for the detection of foot lesions were 0.18 and 0.96, 0.35 and 0.94, 0.43 and 0.94 for the case definitions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Our findings showed poor Se, but high Sp of MSc for the detection of cows with foot lesions in a pasture-based system.

Local and Systemic Inflammation in Finnish Dairy Cows with Digital Dermatitis

Digital dermatitis is a disease of the digital skin and causes lameness and welfare problems in dairy cattle. This study assessed the local and systemic inflammatory responses of cows with different digital dermatitis lesions and compared macroscopical and histological findings. Cow feet (n = 104) were evaluated macroscopically and skin biopsies histologically. Serum samples were analyzed for acute phase proteins (serum amyloid A and haptoglobin) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Cows with macroscopically graded active lesions (p = 0.028) and non-active lesions (p = 0.008) had higher interleukin-1 beta levels in their serum compared to healthy cows. Interleukin-1 beta serum concentrations were also higher (p = 0.042) when comparing lesions with necrosis to lesions without necrosis. There was no difference when other cytokine or acute phase protein concentrations in healthy cows were compared to those in cows with different digital dermatitis lesions. A novel histopathological grading was developed based on the chronicity of the lesions and presence of necrosis and ulceration. The presence and number of spirochetes were graded separately. In the most severe chronic lesions, there was marked epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis with necrosis, deep ulceration, and suppurative inflammation. Spirochetes were found only in samples from necrotic lesions. This study established that digital dermatitis activates proinflammatory cytokines. However, this did not initiate the release of acute phase proteins from the liver. A histopathological grading that takes into account the age and severity of the lesions and presence of spirochetes was developed to better understand the progression of the disease. It is proposed that necrosis of the skin is a result of ischemic necrosis following reduced blood flow in the dermal papillae due to pressure and shear stress caused by thickened epidermis, and that the spirochetes are secondary invaders following tissue necrosis.

Efficacy of quaternary ammonium salt-based disinfectant or chelated copper-zinc footbath solution in the treatment of digital dermatitis on one research dairy farm in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Footbaths can be used to manage digital dermatitis (DD), a common cause of lameness in dairy cattle. Copper sulfate and chelated copper-zinc (CZS) solutions in footbaths are potentially harmful to the environment.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

To determine if a quaternary ammonium salt-based disinfectant (QASD) footbath is as effective as a chelated CZS solution in controlling DD in dairy cows.

ANIMALS

Fifty-one lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, with DD status based on the M-stage scoring system and locomotion score balanced between treatment groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The groups were treated with a 1% QASD or a 2.5% chelated CZS. Footbaths were performed once per week for 15 weeks. Logistic regression was used to analyse clinical improvement. All cows received appropriate medical treatment for DD and other hoof diseases.

RESULTS

Clinical improvement rates were 67% in the QASD group and 38% in the CZS group (p = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds (95% confidence interval) for clinical improvement rate in the CZS group were 0.30 (0.095-0.948) times that of the QASD group (p = 0.04). The M0 score in the QASD and CZS groups increased significantly (p < 0.05) at the end of the 15 week study period. In the QASD group, the proportion of M2, M3 and M4 scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Over a 15 week period, QASD for footbathing was associated with a lower prevalence of active DD lesions than when using CZS.