Time of Onset, Duration, and Location of Lameness in Beef Cattle in a Commercial Feedyard

Abstract

Bovine lameness from a variety of etiologies is a significant cause of feeder cattle morbidity. Cattle are susceptible to traumatic injuries during the marketing process. Inappropriate animal handling or improper facility design can lead to animals being injured with subsequent lameness such as a broken leg, toe abscess, or footrot. Newly arrived, high risk cattle are stressed and exposed to viral pathogens which can make them more susceptible to concurrent infections such as Mycoplasma, Histophilus, or Arcanobacterium which can cause clinical lameness. Localization of the source of the lameness can provide valuable information for treatment protocols, prognosis, and prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to determine the onset, location, and duration of lameness in newly arrived feeder cattle.