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As part of a cross-sectional study of Norwegian Red Cattle, associations of lameness, lesions at the tarsus, claw shapes, and claw lesions with reproductive performance and production diseases were examined. Fifty-five tiestall herds and 57 freestall herds were sampled by computerized systematic selection and 2,665 cows were trimmed and limb and claw disorders recorded by 13 specifically trained claw trimmers during the late winter and spring of 2002. After exclusions, 2,583 cows were included in this study. Most claw lesions were mild (score 1). Prevalence of moderate and severe lesions (score 2 + 3) did not exceed 5% for any of the lesions. Hazard ratios for independent variables were identified using Cox regression analyses incorporating herd as a random effect in a positive stable frailty model. Wounds and swellings at the tarsus were associated with more clinical mastitis [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.0] and teat injuries (HR = 2.5). Moderate and severe heel-horn erosions in first-lactation cows were associated with increased calving interval (HR = 0.60). Moderate and severe hemorrhages of the sole in first-lactation cows were associated with decreased interval from calving to first service (HR = 1.6) and moderate and severe hemorrhages of the sole were associated with more milk fever (HR = 8.6). All hemorrhages of the sole (scores = 1, 2, and 3) were associated with more reproductive hormonal treatments (HR = 2.3). All sole ulcers in first-lactation cows were associated with longer interval from calving to last service (HR = 0.59) and longer calving interval (HR = 0.61), whereas sole ulcers in older cows were associated with longer calving interval (HR = 0.62). All sole ulcers also were associated with more milk fever (HR = 4.8) in all cows. Moderate and severe sole ulcers in older cows were associated with increased interval from calving to first (HR = 0.35) and last (HR = 0.37) service. Moderate and severe white-line fissures in older cows were associated with increased return rate from previous insemination (HR = 2.4). Our study shows that claw disorders are associated with poorer reproductive performance and some production diseases.

This study was part of a cross-sectional project on freestall housing, and the aim was to compare locomotion and claw disorders in freestall dairy cattle herds with slatted concrete, solid concrete, or solid rubber flooring in the alleys. The final population for studying claw disorders consisted of 66 dairy herds with 2,709 dry or lactating cows, whereas the population for studying locomotion consisted of 54 herds with 2,216 cows. All herds used Norwegian Red as the main breed. The herds were visited by 15 trained claw trimmers one time during the period from the beginning of February to summer let-out onto pasture in 2008. The trimmers assessed locomotion scores (LocS) of all cows before trimming. At trimming, claw disorders were diagnosed and recorded in the Norwegian Claw Health Card. Estimates describing locomotion and claw disorders in the hind feet were identified by use of multivariable models fit with LocS and each claw disorder as dependent variables, respectively. Herd nested within claw trimmer was included in the model as random effects. The odds ratio (OR) of having LocS >2 and LocS >3 was 1.9 and 2.1, respectively, on slatted concrete compared with solid concrete. Fewer cases of dermatitis were found on slatted than solid concrete (OR=0.70) and a tendency was observed for fewer heel horn erosions on slatted concrete than solid rubber (OR=0.47). Hemorrhages of the white line and sole were more prevalent in herds housed on slatted and solid concrete than in those housed on solid rubber (OR=2.6 and OR=2.1, respectively). White line fissures were also more prevalent in herds housed on slatted and solid concrete than in those housed on solid rubber (OR=2.1 and OR=2.0, respectively). Double soles were more prevalent on solid concrete than solid rubber (OR=4.4). However, sole ulcers were less prevalent in herds with slatted and solid concrete than solid rubber (OR=0.39 and OR=0.53, respectively). Fewer corkscrewed claws were found on slatted concrete than both solid rubber and solid concrete (OR=0.60 and OR=0.44, respectively). More white line crossing fissures were recorded on slatted and solid concrete than solid rubber (OR=3.6 and OR=3.1, respectively). This shows that solid rubber flooring was favorable when most laminitis-related lesions were considered, whereas slatted concrete was favorable for infectious claw lesions and corkscrewed claws but not for locomotion.

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The aim of this study was to assess infectious foot diseases, including identification and characterization of Dichelobacter nodosus and Treponema spp., in herds having problems with interdigital dermatitis (ID) and heel horn erosion (E) and in control herds expected to have few problems. We also wanted to compare diseased and healthy cows in all herds. The study included 14 dairy herds with a total of 633 cows. Eight herds had a history of ID and E, and 6 were control herds. All cows were scored for lameness, and infectious foot diseases on the hind feet were recorded after trimming. Swabs and biopsies were taken from the skin of 10 cows in each herd for bacterial analyses. In total, samples were taken from 34 cows with ID, 11 with E, 40 with both ID and E, and 8 with digital dermatitis (DD), and from 47 cows with healthy feet. Swabs were analyzed for identification and characterization of D. nodosus by PCR, culture, virulence testing, and serotyping. Biopsies were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization regarding histopathology, identification, and characterization of Treponema spp., and identification of D. nodosus. Interdigital dermatitis was the most frequent foot disease, with a prevalence of 50.4% in problem herds compared with 26.8% in control herds. Heel horn erosion was recorded in 34.8% of the cows in problem herds compared with 22.1% in control herds. Dichelobacter nodosus was detected in 97.1% of the cows with ID, in 36.4% with E, in all cows with both ID and E, in all cows with DD, and in 66.0% of cows with healthy feet. All serogroups of D. nodosus except F and M were detected, and all isolates were defined as benign by the gelatin gel test. Treponema spp. were detected in 50.0% of the cows with ID, in 9.1% with E, in 67.5% with ID and E, in all cows with DD, and in 6.4% of those with healthy feet. In total, 6 previously described phylotypes (PT) of Treponema were detected: PT1, PT3, PT6, PT13, and PT15 in cows with ID, PT1 in a cow with E, and PT1, PT2, PT3, PT6, and PT13 in cows with both ID and E. One new phylotype (PT19) was identified. The epidermal damage score was higher but the difference in inflammatory response of the dermis was minor in cows with ID versus those with healthy feet. Fisher's exact test revealed an association between ID and D. nodosus, and between ID and Treponema spp. Logistic regression revealed an association between both ID and E and dirty claws (odds ratios=1.9 and 2.0, respectively). Our study indicates that D. nodosus, Treponema spp., and hygiene are involved in the pathogenesis of ID.

Dichelobacter nodosus is the main aetiological agent of ovine footrot and the bacterium has also been associated with interdigital dermatitis is cattle. The aim of this study was to investigate possible cross-infection of virulent D. nodosus between sheep and co-grazing cattle. Five farms, where sheep previously diagnosed with virulent D. nodosus were co-grazing with cattle for different periods of time, were included. The study sample consisted of 200 cows and 50 sheep. All cows were examined for the presence of interdigital dermatitis, and ten ewes, preferably with symptoms of footrot, had the footrot scores recorded. On each farm, the same ten ewes and ten cows were chosen for bacterial analyses. Swabs were analysed for D. nodosus by PCR and culturing. D. nodosus isolates were virulence-tested and assigned to serogroups by fimA variant determination. Biopsies were evaluated histopathologically and analysed by fluorescent in situ hybridization for D. nodosus, Treponema spp. and Fusobacterium necrophorum. D. nodosus defined as virulent by the gelatin gel test were isolated from 16 sheep from four farms and from five cows from two of the same farms. All five cows had interdigital dermatitis. Two of the cows stayed infected for at least eight months. By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), the isolates from the five cows were found to be genetically indistinguishable or closely related to isolates from sheep from the same farm. This indicates that cross-infection between sheep and cows have occurred.

As part of a cross-sectional study of Norwegian Red Cattle, associations of lameness, lesions at the tarsus, claw shapes, claw lesions, and claw trimming with milk yield were examined. Fifty-five tie-stall herds and 57 free-stall herds were sampled by computerized systematic selection, and 2,665 cows were trimmed and limb and claw disorders recorded. After exclusions, 2,599 cows were included in this study. Monthly recordings of milk were extracted from the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording System. Most claw lesions were mild (score 1). The prevalence of moderate and severe lesions (score 2 and 3) did not exceed 5% for any of the lesions. Associations with test-day milk yield were identified using regression analyses (Proc Mixed) with repeated measurements within lactation and herd as random effect. Lactation curves were fit to visualize differences in changes in milk yield throughout the lactation. Milk yield was generally higher in cows with lesions at the tarsus, heel-horn erosions, and hemorrhages of the white line and the sole than in cows without these lesions, whereas cows with dermatitis yielded less than cows without dermatitis. Cows in lactation 1 with corkscrewed claws had reduced milk yield, whereas cows in lactations 2 and above had increased milk yield compared with cows without corkscrewed claws in respective lactations. Cows in lactation 1 yielded 0.47 +/- 0.15 kg and cows in later lactations yielded 0.51 +/- 0.15 kg more milk on test days after claw trimming than they did before when adjusted for days in milk. In this study, where most disorders were mild, the most evident results were higher milk yield in cows with lesions at the tarsus, heel-horn erosions, and hemorrhages of the white line and the sole than in cows without these lesions. Cows yielded more milk after claw trimming than they did before trimming.