Lameness causing foot lesions (non-infectious) 1, 2, 3 Flashcards
Name the 3 most common non-infectious foot lesions on farm
Sole haemorrhages/bruising
Sole ulcers
White line lesions
Non-infectious foot lesions are associated with what conditions?
Sub-clinical laminitis/SARA
Claw horn disruption lesions
Trauma/contusions within the claw horn capsule
What are sole haemorrhages/bruising, how do they occur?
Contusions of the corium
Pressure from the pedal bone
External pressures e.g. from stones, especially where the soles are thin
Double sole formations occurs as a result of?
Haemorrhage and bruising - damage to the corium
What are sole ulcers and how do they occur?
- A more severe manifestation of haemorrhage/bruising (mainly caused by trauma/ contusions of the corium from the of the pedal bone)
- Disrupted sole horn production
- Exposure of the corium
What is the primary cause of sole ulcers and white line disease?
Movement of the pedal bone within the claw capsule
Movement of the pedal bone within the claw capsule is influenced by what factors?
- Hormone changes around parturition
- Daily lying and standing time
- Concrete floors
- Feed space
- Over stocking
- Milking time and frequency
- Access to stalls and stall design/dimension
Which hormones at parturition are linked to movement of the pedal bone?
Relaxin and oestrogen
What is the role of the digital cushion?
Protects the corium from trauma inflicted by the pedal bone
Which factors affect the digital cushion?
- BCS
- Stage of lactation
- Milk production
- Parity
What are the consequences of claw overgrowth?
Causes an imbalance on the weightbearing surface
Results in overloading of the claw and intra-claw capsule trauma
Claw horn overgrowth is affected by which 3 factors?
Confinement
Concrete floors
Wet floors
How are sole haemorrhages and ulcers treated?
Functional trimming (Dutch method, 5 steps)
Block unaffected claw
NSAIDs
Describe the features of white line lesions
- White line disease/
- White line abscesses
- Separation, stones/manure
- Associated with shearing/sideways forces on the feet
- Claw overload
How are white line lesions treated?
Functional trimming
Remove detached horn
Block unaffected claw
NSAIDs
Antibiotcs?
What is the objective of corrective foot trimming?
Change the microenvironment from an anaerobic to an aerobic
Describe the technique of corrective foot timming
- Remove all loose, undermined and necrotic horn
- Avoid damage to the peripheral corium tissues
- Adjust weight bearing
- Apply foot block to elevate injured claw, prevent repeated trauma and to promote healing
List the risk factors for non-infectious lameness
- Cow comfort
- Stocking densities
- Feed barrier space
- Milking frequency/duration
- Floor surfaces
- Tracks
- Animal handling
- Over trimming
- Calving period
- Age
- Nutrition
- Genetics
Describe how cow comfort acts as a risk factors for non-infectious lameness
- Lying/ standing on concrete times can be a game changer
- You need comfortable, well designed cubicles to ensure that cows will lie down for 12-14 hours a day
- Dimensions
- Bedding materials
Which bedding options are best for cow comfort?
- Deep sand is best!
- Mats or mattresses another option
Describe how stocking density acts as a risk factors for non-infectious lameness
- Overcrowding will lead to increased standing times and more aggressive interactions between cows
In straw yards what is the space requirement per cow?
10 square meters
Describe how feed barrier space acts as a risk factors for non-infectious lameness
- Commonly inadequate in three rows pens
- Cows like doing things together
- Becomes even more important during the transition period!!
- 76 cm yokes, one per cow in the group
- At least 70 cm per cow (when not using yokes)
Describe how milking frequency/duration acts as a risk factors for non-infectious lameness
- 3 times milking will increase the standing/ walking times
- Long waiting combined with overcrowding in the collecting yard is a problem
- Bad cow flow/ sharp corners (sometimes when exiting the parlour)
