By Geyer, H. and Landerer, R. and Lischer, C. J. and Lutz, B. and Ossent, P. and Wehrle, M., Wiener Tierarztliche Monatsschrift, 2000
Description
The influence of the harsh alpine conditions on claw health was evaluated in a hundred Brown Swiss dairy cattle. Their claws were examined clinically three times during the ninety days on pasture and the lesions were recorded according to degree and localization. The data were compared with the biochemical parameters. Thirty of one hundred cows did not develop any claw lesions during the entire time (group 1), nine animals had white line separation without lesions in the sole (group 2). Hemorrhage and yellow discoloration in the sole of more than two claws were observed in sixty-one animals (group 3). The prevalence of lameness ranged between 15 and 21 %. Heel horn erosion and yellow discoloration decreased during the course of the ninety day period, whereas white line lesions and solar hemorrhages increased. Higher concentrations of urea, beta -hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids and cholesterol in over 50 % of the cows reflected the meager feeding conditions. Animals with solar hemorrhages and yellow discolorations (group 3) had higher plasma enzyme activities for AST, GLDH and gamma -GT than groups 1 and 2.
The influence of the harsh alpine conditions on claw health was evaluated in a hundred Brown Swiss dairy cattle. Their claws were examined clinically three times during the ninety days on pasture and the lesions were recorded according to degree and localization. The data were compared with the biochemical parameters. Thirty of one hundred cows did not develop any claw lesions during the entire time (group 1), nine animals had white line separation without lesions in the sole (group 2). Hemorrhage and yellow discoloration in the sole of more than two claws were observed in sixty-one animals (group 3). The prevalence of lameness ranged between 15 and 21 %. Heel horn erosion and yellow discoloration decreased during the course of the ninety day period, whereas white line lesions and solar hemorrhages increased. Higher concentrations of urea, beta -hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids and cholesterol in over 50 % of the cows reflected the meager feeding conditions. Animals with solar hemorrhages and yellow discolorations (group 3) had higher plasma enzyme activities for AST, GLDH and gamma -GT than groups 1 and 2.
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