Lameness overview/intro

Question 1

What is lameness an indicator of?

Answer 1

• pain

Question 2

What is the most common anatomical site for lameness in farmed species?

Answer 2

• the foot

Question 3

Is lameness of foot origin common in cattle and sheep?

Answer 3

• yes

Question 4

Is control of lameness important at herd or individual level in farmed species?

Answer 4

• both
• but particularly herd level

Question 5

Frequency of more proximal (than the foot) causes of lameness

Answer 5

• sporadic cases affecting individual animals (with a few exceptions)

Question 6

Distal phalanx (P3)

Answer 6

• positioned centrally within hoof capsule
• DDFT inserts on caudal prominence
• attached by collagen attachments to the hoof wall

Question 7

Sole corium

Answer 7

• fills space between pedal bone and hoof capsule
• blood vessels, nerves and other support structures
• stratum germinative - produces sole horn
• damage to sole chorion -> 6-8w will see damage as a sole ulcer

Question 8

Large digital cushion inside the hoof

Answer 8

= digital fat pad
- pad of fat and elastic tissue
- dissipates force and transfers load to the wall during foot strike and limb loading
- very important
- if the digital cushion is reduced the distal phalanx can cause pinching and pressure lesions to the sole

Question 9

How common is lameness in cattle?

Answer 9

• ~22% for dairy cows

Question 10

Is lameness a significant welfare concern?

Answer 10

• yes
• painful
• large numbers affected

Question 11

How much does bovine lameness cost?

Answer 11

• average cost (all cows) = £3.30/cow/day
• severe lameness (score 3) = £6.80/cow/day
• moderate lameness (score 2) = £2.25/cow/day
• average cost per herd = £42,398/year (assuming prevalence doesn’t change)

Question 12

What contributes to the high cost of bovine lameness?

Answer 12

• reduced milk yield (24%)
• reduced fertility (39%)
• culling costs (24%)
• vet costs (1%)
• treatment costs (10%)
• labour costs (2%)

Question 13

Types of bovine lameness

Answer 13

• claw horn lesions (sole ulcers, sole haemorrhage)
• white line dz
• infectious lesions (digital dermatitis, foul in the foot)

Question 14

Claw horn disruption lesions

Answer 14

• claw horn lesions
• white line dz

Question 15

Reduction in milk yield

Answer 15

• DD doesn’t seem to have any effect on milk yield
• WLD has a mild effect
• sole ulcers are the biggest offenders/cause of reduction in milk yield

Question 16

Is lameness common in sheep?

Answer 16

• yes
• estimated to be ~4.9% (2015)

Question 17

How much does ovine lameness cost?

Answer 17

• average cost ~£3.90-£6.35/ewe
• foot rot alone thought to cost national sheep flock £20-80 million/year

Question 18

Most common causes of ovine lameness

Answer 18

• footrot: ~70% lameness cases, present in >95% UK sheep flocks
• contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD): ~35% lameness cases, ~50% flocks affected

Question 19

Other common causes of ovine lameness

Answer 19

• scald: early presentation of footrot
• toe granuloma
• toe abscess
• shelly hoof: outside hoof capsule becomes loose and wobbly

Question 20

5 point plan to reduce lameness in sheep

Answer 20

• cull (those frequently affected)
• avoid (buying in sheep affected by these conditions
• treat
• quarantine
• vaccinate

why lameness prevalence in sheep has dropped, also sheep lesions tend to be infectious, whereas in cows they are not.