Cattle Lameness

Question 1

Why should we bother with lameness?

Answer 1

It is a SIGN (not disease) that is a huge welfare concern. Affects all 5 freedoms and is v prevalent.

Question 2

Which cows are more likely to get lame?

what does this mean?

Answer 2

High yielding cows more susceptible to lameness

this means you may have a cow producing more than average however for her individually is a loss

A HPC lame could cost you 500-600 kg milk

Question 3

Pressures on the farmer to tackle lameness

Answer 3

1. public perception
2. Costly - treatment, cull, reduced milk yield
3. Impacts repro performance

Question 4

How does cattle lameness affect repro? (6)

Answer 4

1. Delayed cyclicity
2. associated with Ovarian cysts
3. Don’t show heat as well (pain) won’t want to mount!
4. Longer to conceive = prolonged calving intervals
5. Less likely to ovulate when manipulate with hormones as well
6. lower oestrus intensity
7. lower progesterones levels before oestrus

Question 5

How does cattle lameness affect repro? (6)

Answer 5

1. Delayed cyclicity
2. associated with Ovarian cysts
3. Don’t show heat as well (pain) won’t want to mount!
4. Longer to conceive = prolonged calving intervals
5. Less likely to ovulate when manipulate with hormones as well e..g doesn’t respond as well to progesterone synchronisation regime
6. lower oestrus intensity
7. lower progesterones levels before oestrus

Question 6

What impact does lameness have on nutrition

Answer 6

• reduced time spent eating
• reduced dry matter intake
• Low BCS, low milk production

Question 7

Cost of lameness

Answer 7

treatment - drugs, vet, milk withdrawal
Labour
Reduced milk yield
Reduced repro performance
involuntary culling
Low carcass quality

Question 8

Why do farmers often miss lame cows

Answer 8

Only really lame identified that are obvious/ staying at the back

Question 9

How can we help farmers assess lameness?

Answer 9

1. Regular mobility scoring
2. lesion recording
3. Hock Assessment Scoring 1-3

Question 10

How can we help farmers assess/ measure lameness?

Answer 10

1. Regular mobility scoring (0-3)
2. lesion recording
3. Hock Assessment Scoring 1-3

Question 11

Good way to help farmers change

Answer 11

Give them numbers:

40% of your cows lame. Aim = 20% for e.g.

Question 12

Mobility scoring numbers and aim

Answer 12

0, 1, 2, 3

Aim = deal with score 1 and 2 to PREVENT ever getting to score 3

Just dealing with 3 won’t get you anywhere

Question 13

Signs of lameness cow

Answer 13

Head bob, shorten stride, arches back

Question 14

What does hock assessment t indicate?

Answer 14

High score (3) indicates environment isn’t very comfortable = predisposing factor to lameness

Question 15

What are lameness mostly due to?

Answer 15

Foot lesions

of which we have infectious and non infecitous

Question 16

Infectious causing lesions include

Answer 16

• Digital dermatitis
• Foul in the foot
• Interdigital dermatitis
• heel horn erosion

Question 17

Non infectious causing lesions include

Answer 17

• Sole haemorrhages/ bruising
• Sole ulcers
• white line lesions

Question 18

biomechanics of foot growth

Answer 18

Continuous growth of horn and continuous wear

Question 19

What causes problems wrt foot wear?

When do you get XS wear?

Answer 19

More growth than wear = claw overgrowth which leads to issues
XS wear if abrasive concrete, walking long distance = thin sole = diff problems
Most problem with housed herds on concrete = growth faster than wear
Problems more prominent in hind feet
More exposed to slurry
Forelimbs attached to body by more elastic components
More forgiving
Lateral claws of hind feet progressively outgrow medial ones = where cow distributes more weight and when more G than W, initial inc weight distribution on lateral gets exacerbated = produces more horn = more pressure in coreum between pedal bone and sole In lateral claw
The solar dermis is under pressure between the pedal bone and the sole
Heal lateral claw hits ground first = more weight, pressure = overgrows

Question 20

Describe 5 stage Dutch method

Answer 20

Assume lateral hind overgrowth
Start with medial hind claw (lateral fore) (won’t need as much work.
Measure toe length: from where coronary bad goes hard to tip of toe
Trim dorsal wall length to 7.5-8 cm (9 for large Holsteins?)
Where do we measure?
Sticking to this cm can be problematic as not 1 size fits all. Adapt to cow. Huge cow = probs a bit more!
If over trim and go too short you will hit the soft tissue, bleed cow, pain
Means sole cut too short = predisposed to lesions
Leave a bit more than over trim!
Reduce sole depth at the toe to approximately 5 to 7 mm (don’t over trim)
Spare the heel
Heal depth is important- for lesions and dermatitis!
Correct wall length/ sole depth of the other claw
Model/ dish out
deeper and wider modelling of the lateral hind/medial fore claw (Dairyland, some supporting evidence)

Question 21

Hock assessment: explain them so in exam can look at a pic and say what it is

Answer 21

1 = no swelling. no hair missing
2 = no swelling, bald area on hock
3. Swelling evident and lesion through hide

Question 22

What anatomical structure is very important in development of lameness causing lesions?

Answer 22

Pedal bone, especially the tuberculum flexor process
Why?
Rotation of it can impinge on soft tissue

Question 23

Aim of foot trimming

Answer 23

keeping pedal bone in correct anatomical position

Question 24

Importance of Digital cushion

Answer 24

= bit of tissue like a pad, mostly fat and connective tissue, has some protective functions for foot. Mainly protecting the soft tissue that is just under the pedal cushion – part producing healthy keratinocytes, ending up forming ahrd aprt of sole that is protecting the softer tissues

Question 25

What is the suspensory apparatus of the digit?

Answer 25

Collagen fibres keeping pedal bone attached to dermal lamellae
Extremely important in cattle lameness