Claw diseases and lameness in Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to estimate the influence of age (parity) and housing system on the incidence of claw lesions and lameness in Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. The incidence of hoof lesions and lameness in 1,330 cows was determined at claw trimming at 11 dairy farms in 2003-2004. In the front limbs, the mean of healthy claws was 86.6%, while in the hind limbs, it was 38.7%. The percentage of main diseases in the total number of observed claw lesions was 32.1% for sole ulcers, 18.4% for sole haemorrhage, 17.8% for digital dermatitis, 9.4% for white line disease, 8.1% for thick hock, and 4.5% for interdigital dermatitis. Primarily, the sole ulcers were associated with sole haemorrhage, white line disease, interdigital growth, interdigital dermatitis, and thick hock. The incidence of lameness was noted in 31.4% (locomotion score 2) and 11.7% (locomotion score 3). Parity and housing systems (tethered and free stalls) had no effect on the total percentage of healthy claws and the distribution of the locomotion score. The incidence of sole ulcers was 47.6% and 55.4% of the total numbers of claw lesions in cows with locomotion scores 2 and 3 respectively.

[1]  D. Döpfer,et al.  Clinical course of digital dermatitis lesions in an endemically infected herd without preventive herd strategies. , 2008, Veterinary journal.

[2]  S. Thamsborg,et al.  Conformation of hind legs and lameness in Danish Holstein heifers. , 2008, Journal of dairy science.

[3]  N. Neerchal,et al.  Objective determination of claw pain and its relationship to limb locomotion score in dairy cattle. , 2007, Journal of dairy science.

[4]  Ola Nafstad,et al.  Bovine claw and limb disorders related to culling and carcass characteristics , 2007 .

[5]  M. Endres,et al.  Prevalence of lameness in high-producing holstein cows housed in freestall barns in Minnesota. , 2006, Journal of dairy science.

[6]  L. Green,et al.  Risk factors for reduced locomotion in dairy cattle on nineteen farms in The Netherlands. , 2006, Journal of dairy science.

[7]  O. Østerås,et al.  Lameness and Claw Lesions of the Norwegian Red Dairy Cattle Housed in Free Stalls in Relation to Environment, Parity and Stage of Lactation , 2005, Acta veterinaria Scandinavica.

[8]  O. Østerås,et al.  Prevalence of claw lesions in Norwegian dairy cattle housed in tie stalls and free stalls. , 2005, Preventive veterinary medicine.

[9]  J. Krieter,et al.  Risk factors influencing lameness and claw disorders in dairy cows , 2005 .

[10]  L. Warnick,et al.  Effect of lameness on culling in dairy cows. , 2004, Journal of dairy science.

[11]  C. Bergsten.  Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Laminitis and Related Claw Lesions , 2003, Acta veterinaria Scandinavica. Supplementum.

[12]  Jan Hultgren,et al.  Prevalence and interrelationships of hoof lesions and lameness in Swedish dairy cows. , 2002, Preventive veterinary medicine.

[13]  Y T Gröhn,et al.  The effect of lameness on milk production in dairy cows. , 2001, Journal of dairy science.

[14]  H. Whay,et al.  Associations between locomotion, claw lesions and nociceptive threshold in dairy heifers during the peri-partum period. , 1997, Veterinary journal.

[15]  V. Ducrocq,et al.  Modeling the effect of a disease on culling: an illustration of the use of time-dependent covariates for survival analysis. , 1997, Journal of dairy science.

[16]  D. Sprecher,et al.  A lameness scoring system that uses posture and gait to predict dairy cattle reproductive performance. , 1997, Theriogenology.

[17]  F. Manson,et al.  Epidemiology of lameness in dairy cattle: description and analysis of foot lesions , 1996, Veterinary Record.

[18]  F. Manson,et al.  Incidence and prevalence of lameness in dairy cattle , 1996, Veterinary Record.

[19]  L. Alban.  Lameness in Danish dairy cows: frequency and possible risk factors , 1995 .