By Kempson, S. A. and Logue, D. N. and Offer, J. E., Irish Veterinary Journal, 1993
Description
Lameness is a major cuase of suffering in dairy cattle. For many years it has been evident that systems of management predisposed to the condition. However, the interactions are complex and, unfortunately, epidemiological research, while identifying risk factors, has largely failed to apportion the relative importance of the various influencing factors. Equally, because of inadequate control, experimental studies have also proved difficult to interpret. This is because the underlying aetiology and development of lesions of the foot, the most common cause of lameness in dairy cattle, have been inadequately defined and some factors ignored, such as insults to the hoof prior to the experimental period. A radical reappraisal of the problem has been sought, starting with a model of the development of lesions of the sole, which occur even in cattle that never become lame. Only with this background will it be possible to define suitable experiments to identify the relative importance and interrelationship of the various factors involved in lameness. The present study has obtained time-dependent relationships between aspects of hoof horn ultrastructure and the occurrence of hoof lesions and has shown that the interrelationship between the physiological demands of growth, pregnancy, and lactation and the consequent management of the in-calf heifer and first - calving cow are more important factors in the development of hoof lesions than has been generally recognised to date.
Lameness is a major cuase of suffering in dairy cattle. For many years it has been evident that systems of management predisposed to the condition. However, the interactions are complex and, unfortunately, epidemiological research, while identifying risk factors, has largely failed to apportion the relative importance of the various influencing factors. Equally, because of inadequate control, experimental studies have also proved difficult to interpret. This is because the underlying aetiology and development of lesions of the foot, the most common cause of lameness in dairy cattle, have been inadequately defined and some factors ignored, such as insults to the hoof prior to the experimental period. A radical reappraisal of the problem has been sought, starting with a model of the development of lesions of the sole, which occur even in cattle that never become lame. Only with this background will it be possible to define suitable experiments to identify the relative importance and interrelationship of the various factors involved in lameness. The present study has obtained time-dependent relationships between aspects of hoof horn ultrastructure and the occurrence of hoof lesions and has shown that the interrelationship between the physiological demands of growth, pregnancy, and lactation and the consequent management of the in-calf heifer and first - calving cow are more important factors in the development of hoof lesions than has been generally recognised to date.
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