By Collick, D. W. and Dobson, H. and Ward, W.R., Veterinary Record, 1989
Description
Four hundred and twenty-seven cases of first-reported foot lameness were recorded in 17 dairy herds in Somerset during the winter housing period. Lameness was classified into three categories: sole ulceration, digital disease (white line abscess, foreign bodies in the sole and pricked or punctured sole), and interdigital disease (lesions of the skin between claws and heel including foul in the foot, interdigital fibroma and dermatitis). In addition, a 'clinical effect score' was calculated to take account of the severity of lameness, the structures involved and the time for which the cows were clinically affected. The fertility records of lame cows were compared with those of the healthy cows nearest in parity and stage of lactation. In the lame cows the interval from calving to first service was four days longer, and the interval from calving to conception was 14 days longer than in the control cows, the pregnancy rate to first service was 45% (controls 56%), 2.14 services were required per conception (controls 1.72) and 16% of lame cows were culled (controls 5%). Lameness, first reported in the period 36 to 70 days after calving, was associated with a significant increase in the interval from calving to first service of eight days; and sole ulceration, in the period 71 to 120 days after calving, was associated with an increase of 11 days. Lameness in all periods up to 120 days after calving was associated with significantly increased intervals from calving to conception. The largest increases in intervals from calving to conception were associated with sole ulceration (40 days) and with a high 'clinical effect score' in the period 71 to 120 days after calving (31 days). A reduced pregnancy rate to first service was associated with both high 'clinical effect score' and with sole ulceration. More services were required per conception in all categories of lameness, except in interdigital disease and in animals in their first lactation. Culling was significantly greater in the lame group, in particular in the period 36 to 70 days after calving, and in animals with a high 'clinical effect score' or with sole ulceration or digital disease
Four hundred and twenty-seven cases of first-reported foot lameness were recorded in 17 dairy herds in Somerset during the winter housing period. Lameness was classified into three categories: sole ulceration, digital disease (white line abscess, foreign bodies in the sole and pricked or punctured sole), and interdigital disease (lesions of the skin between claws and heel including foul in the foot, interdigital fibroma and dermatitis). In addition, a 'clinical effect score' was calculated to take account of the severity of lameness, the structures involved and the time for which the cows were clinically affected. The fertility records of lame cows were compared with those of the healthy cows nearest in parity and stage of lactation. In the lame cows the interval from calving to first service was four days longer, and the interval from calving to conception was 14 days longer than in the control cows, the pregnancy rate to first service was 45% (controls 56%), 2.14 services were required per conception (controls 1.72) and 16% of lame cows were culled (controls 5%). Lameness, first reported in the period 36 to 70 days after calving, was associated with a significant increase in the interval from calving to first service of eight days; and sole ulceration, in the period 71 to 120 days after calving, was associated with an increase of 11 days. Lameness in all periods up to 120 days after calving was associated with significantly increased intervals from calving to conception. The largest increases in intervals from calving to conception were associated with sole ulceration (40 days) and with a high 'clinical effect score' in the period 71 to 120 days after calving (31 days). A reduced pregnancy rate to first service was associated with both high 'clinical effect score' and with sole ulceration. More services were required per conception in all categories of lameness, except in interdigital disease and in animals in their first lactation. Culling was significantly greater in the lame group, in particular in the period 36 to 70 days after calving, and in animals with a high 'clinical effect score' or with sole ulceration or digital disease
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