Development of a sole ulcer induction model in Holstein heifers: The next step in lameness research

Abstract

Lameness continues to be highly prevalent in the dairy industry, negatively impacting cow performance, farm profitability, and animal welfare. Affecting around 10% of dairy cows, sole ulcers (SU) are the second most prevalent lesion-based causes of lameness. Sole ulcers are costlier, lead to more greenhouse gas emissions, and are more painful than other lesion types. Despite SU prevalence, studies have thus far failed to explain SU pathogenesis, requiring a new approach to unravel the recurrent, multifactorial nature of SU for use in developing preventative and therapeutic treatment strategies. Our study objective was to develop a SU induction model in heifers during the transition period and to describe physiological, production, and behavioral changes during the induction process.