LA Ortho - Lamenss In Cattle Flashcards
Why is there a higher incidence of lameness in dairy cattle?
Housing, inside on concrete, varying diet
Within sectors of beef cattle why do feedlot experience more lameness?
Experience more confinement and indoor flooring
Housing types for dairy cattle
Bedded pack
Tie stall barn
Free stall barn
How long should dairy cows spend laying down?
12-14 hours
Activities and times cows should experience
Eating 3-5 hours
Resting 12-14 hours
Social interactions 2-3 hours
Drinking 0.5 hours
Milking time <3.5 hours - lower milking time = less time stnading
Economic impact of dairy cattle lameness
Approx 100-300 per lame cow
17,000/100 cows/year
15-55 cases/100 cows/year
Case fatality ≥2%
Production losses from lameness
Decreased milk production - doesn’t eat as much
Decreased fertility (increased days open)
Depressed immune function
Increased labor costs
Increased culling & replacement cost
Impact of lameness in beef cattle
Prevalence in 2-16% in feedlot cattle
5% mortality in feedlots
Lame beef cattle make up 70% of all sales of non-performing cattle (cull cattle)
Lame cattle are often sold for 50% or less
Lameness is an animal welfare issue
Conditions causing lameness are among the most painful disorders affecting cattle
Prompt recognition and treatment is key
Concern for owner & public
Normal walk for cows
Head down, looking right ahead where they place their front feet due to peripheral vision
Why do cows dislike physical contact
To avoid higher dominance cows and concentration on where to place their next step
Importance of calm moving
Moving along quietly will seldom misplace a foot or step even on a poor surface
observing a cow walk
Flat back during gait, stride is equivalent in front and back almost replacing each other,
Weight bearing on limbs
Front feet 50-60% of weight
Weight is distributed almost evenly between all 4 feet
Outer claw on hind feet is larger than inner claw due to carrying more weight & circumvention action
Front feet control side to side movement (inner claw is larger than outer claw)
Observations in distant exam
BCS and general health
Feet, legs, back posture, head position while standing
Determine affected limbs
Determine lameness score/severity
