Lameness in Cattle

Risk (Predisposing) Factors for Non-Infectious Claw Disorders in Dairy Cows Under Varying Zero-Grazing Systems

“…The effects on the horn are due to the fact that in these lesions there underlies the laminitis syndrome as the cause or sequel of the lesions. During this laminitis syndrome, the damaged corium produces poor quality horn that is softer than normal as previously reported (Baggott & Russell, 1981;Nocek, 1997;Weaver, 1979). This explains why the whitish soft crumbling horn was seen in some claws with chronic laminitis in this study.…”

“…Since the horn quality is poorer in chronic laminitis, sole bruising and heel erosion become more severe during that phase of laminitis. The softened horn easily undergoes bacterial erosion and necrosis (Nocek, 1997) particularly when combined with other physical factors that cause horn softening such as accumulation of slurry on the floor of the cow house (Baggott & Russell, 1981). Sole bruising and heel erosion were found to be deeper and affecting more weight-bearing zones of the claw when the corium was more damaged.…”

“…This shape alterations associated with chronic laminitis are severe, irreversible and render reshaping of the claw difficult; hence they give chronic laminitis poor prognosis (Baggott & Russell, 1981;Nguhiu-Mwangi et al, 2008). This explains why attempts made to manage deformity conditions by trimming claws of the affected cows during this study, proved to be of little benefit.…”

“…These parts have softer and weaker horn that inadequately protects the underlying corium (Collins-née Hedges et al, 2004). Excessive claw overgrowth then leads to undue www.intechopen.com mechanical pressure on the solar corium due to excessive weight-bearing on the pedal bone and inadequate support of the corium by the horny capsule at the sole especially following thinning of the horn of the sole in laminitis (Baggott & Russell, 1981;Toussaint-Raven, 1973). Trimming tends to return the claw to near normal weight-bearing even at chronic stages of regular overgrowth (Weaver, 1993).…”

Breed and Season Effects on the Claw Lesions of Dairy Cows in Ardebil, Iran

“…HHE is widespread in winter-housed cattle with unhygienic conditions when feet are kept wet and rarely causes lameness unless there is extensive underrunning of the heel and sole to the depth of the corium [15,16,29]. It is also more frequent in older cows [16].…”