Lameness in Dairy Cattle: A Debilitating Disease or a Disease of Debilitated Cattle?

A Cross-sectional Study of Lameness Prevalence and Thickness of the Digital Cushion

Authors

  • R. C. Bicalho Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
  • L. S. Caixeta Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
  • V. S. Machado Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20094300

Keywords:

lameness, animal welfare, sole ulcers, white line abscesses, digital cushion thickness, digital lesions, body condition score

Abstract

Lameness is the most significant challenge for the dairy industry to overcome given its obvious disruption of animal welfare and severe economic losses. Sole ulcers and white line abscesses are ubiquitous diseases with chronic nature and with the highest associated economic losses amongst all foot lesions. Their underlying causes are still not fully understood. The objectives of the study were to assess the association of digital cushion thickness (DCT), the risk of claw horn disruption lesions, and to assess the dynamics of DCT by stage of lactation and body condition score (BCS). It was hypothesized that DCT would be negatively associated with the risk of digital lesions and that DCT would be positively associated with BCS.

Cover image of the 42nd Conference Proceedings: Cattle grazing in a spring field along the horizon. In the foreground, one brown cow with a triangle marking and ear tags is posing. Yellow background.

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Published

2009-09-10

Issue

2009

Section

Research Summaries 1

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