Correlations of measurements of subclinical claw horn lesions in dairy cattle

Abstract

Measurements were made of the extent of sole and white line lesions on the claws of 115 Holstein-Friesian cows on at least three and at most 16 occasions, and some cows were followed up to their third lactation. All the measurements were made between 12 weeks before calving and 45 weeks after calving. In total, 1016 repeated observations were made. Correlations were calculated between pairs of claws, between types of lesion (sole and white line), and between pairs of the different measurements (number of lesions, proportion of the claw affected, maximum severity score and proportion of the claw affected weighted for severity). The outer hind claws had the greatest extent of lesions of both types. Spearman correlation coefficients and confidence intervals measured the strength of the association. All the associations between claws were positive, suggesting that the lesions did not occur in isolation. Sole and white line lesions were not associated at individual observation points. Lesions on the left and right claws were markedly similar, except for sole lesions on the two inner hind claws, and for white line lesions on the two outer hind claws.

Use of thermography to monitor sole haemorrhages and temperature distribution over the claws of dairy cattle

“…Observations of lateral claws being more affected by disease have also been reported in other studies (Toussaint Raven 1989, Le Fevre and others 2001, Vanegas and others 2006, Ouweltjes and others 2011). The results are consistent with the pressure distribution on claws as described by van der Tol and others (2002, 2003).…”

“…Many studies showed that the hindlimbs, and especially the lateral claws, are considerably more affected by lesions than the front limbs (Toussaint Raven 1989, Le Fevre and others 2001, Vanegas and others 2006). A positive effect of softer flooring systems on limb health was shown in many studies as well (Webster 2001, Knott and others 2007, Telezhenko and others 2007, 2008, Ouweltjes and others 2009, Ouweltjes and others 2011).…”

A prospective cohort study of digital cushion and corium thickness. Part 1: Associations with body condition, lesion incidence, and proximity to calving

“…These diseases are prevalent in developed dairy systems worldwide (Barker et al, 2007;Dippel et al, 2009;Foditsch et al, 2016), significantly affect cow welfare and farm profitability (Booth et al, 2004;Sogstad et al, 2006;Cha et al, 2010), and have a plethora of associated risk factors (Cramer et al, 2009;Chapinal et al, 2013;Solano et al, 2015). Sole ulcers and sole hemorrhage appear to be different presentations of a similar disease process, which is likely through insult to the germinal epithelium of the sole and poor quality horn production, as a result of inappropriate transfer of forces through the foot (Bicalho and Oikonomou, 2013;Nuss, 2014); white line disease may also precipitate from the same disease process where contusions occur in the soft tissues around the periphery of the base of the foot (Le Fevre et al, 2001;Newsome et al, 2016).…”

Scientific report on the effects of farming systems on dairy cow welfare and disease

“…There is a clear relationship between severe foot lesions, sole ulcer and lameness . Le Fevre et al (2001) proposed a system for integrating lesions number, size and severity and in this case claw horn lesion scores were highly correlated with lameness. However many milder foot lesions involving sole haemorrhage are not consistently associated with lameness .…”

“…Lesion scores have been used to assess the prevalence and severity of lameness (Leach et al, 1998;Le Fevre et al, 2001;Wells et al, 1993;Smilie et al, 1999). Once again these systems vary slightly in approach.…”