Cattle Lameness and Foot Trimming

Question 1

What are the 3 infectious diseases that cause lameness?

Answer 1

1. heel warts
2. foot rot
3. heel erosion

Question 2

What are the 6 non-infectious causes of lameness?

Answer 2

1. interdigital hyperplasia
2. sole/toe ulcer
3. white line disease
4. thin soles
5. cork screw claw
6. wall cracks and fissures

Question 3

what is the leading cause of lameness in dairy cattle in the US?

Answer 3

digital dermatitis

Question 4

If there is continuous cycling between M2, M4, and M2 digital dermatitis lesions, then what is most likely the management issue?

Answer 4

foot baths – perhaps the chemical type/concentration needs to be changed, frequency at which they go into it, or the cleanliness of it (how many cows go through before they decide to clean it)

Question 5

what are the top 3 areas where changes can be made to control digital dermatitis?

Answer 5

1. management
2. hygiene
3. nutrition

Question 6

T/F: digital dermatitis is more difficult to control in beef cattle because they are not up every day

Answer 6

true

Question 7

________ is a heritable misalignment of the 2nd and 3rd phalanges that is also influenced by nutrition. This condition is characterized by the overgrowth of the claw with abaxial and axial curvature of the wall and rotation of the toe.

Answer 7

corkscrew claw

this condition can cause secondary lesions to occur (white line disease, sole ulcers, etc.)

Question 8

What claws are typically affected with corkscreaw claw in the hindlimbs versus the front limb?

Answer 8

hindlimbs – lateral claw

forelimbs – medial claw

Question 9

How do you perform corrective trimming for corkscrew claw?

Answer 9

Reduce the toe length of the corkscrew claw to the length of the opposite claw.

Remove the upward deviation of the dorsal hoof wall of the corkscrew claw and align it with the dorsal hoof wall of the opposite claw.

Balance the sole of the corkscrew claw to the opposite claw.

Remove the fold in the axial wall and slope out/dish out the axial wall.

Increase the weight bearing surface of the corkscrew claw if enough sole horn thickness remains.

Question 10

what are 3 common sequelae to corkscrew claw?

Answer 10

1. white line disease at the abaxial wall
2. Rusterholz ulcer at the heel
3. digital sepsis if extension of the ulcer of abscess

place a block of the opposite claw if WLD or ulcers are present.

Question 11

how do you prevent sequelae to corkscrew claw?

Answer 11

Trim the claws every 6 months - 1 year

cull the animal – they should not be bred because this trait is heritable.

Question 12

T/F: the dirtier environment a cow is in, the higher the risk for infection and subsequent lameness

Answer 12

true

we can monitor this using hygiene scores –
1 = little/no manure above coronary band
2 = minor splashing above coronary band
3 = distinct plaques of manure above the coronary band, but leg hair visible
4 = solid plaque of manure extending high up the leg

Question 13

How can forces on the feet contribute to lameness?

How can we alter this to reduce lameness?

Answer 13

The more a cow stands, the more likely she is to become lame.

We can ensure that the cow has low forces on the feet (plenty of time to lay down, mats to soften footing, etc.)

Question 14

T/F: early detection and early treatment are considered success factors for lameness

Answer 14

true

Question 15

T/F: good horn quality and shape contribute to reduction of lameness

Answer 15

true
this is affected by time standing, nutrition, flooring, and frequency of trimming.

Question 16

What 4-5 nutrients have DIRECT roles in growing and maintaining claw, skin, and leg health?

Answer 16

1. zinc and biotin – hoof keratin formation
2. Manganese – joint structure and bone density
3. copper – synthesis/maintenance of ligaments, tendons, bone, and cartilage
4. selenium – antioxidant, immunity, protects cell membrane

Question 17

What 5 lesions should be the most important to record when visiting a farm?

Answer 17

1. white line disease
2. sole ulcers
3. digital dermatitis
4. foot rot
5. upper leg lameness

Question 18

What are the 6 uses of lameness scoring?

Answer 18

1. detection and severity of lameness
2. estimate lost profits in herd
3. compare incidence and severity of lameness between herds
4. monitor prevalence of lameness in a herd
5. benchmarks established to determine whether established prevention measures are effective or not
6. identify cows needing functional claw trimming.

Question 19

Match the locomotion score (1-5) with the correct description below:
___ stands and walks with arched back. short strides
___ constant arched back. great difficulty moving
___ stands and walks normally with flat back. long confident strides
___ arched back with standing and walking. favors certain legs
___ stands with flat back, arches when walks. alightly abnormal gait

Answer 19

3 – (moderality lame) stands and walks with arched back. short strides
5 – (severely lame) constant arched back. great difficulty moving
1 – (normal) stands and walks normally with flat back. long confident strides
4 – (lame) arched back with standing and walking. favors certain legs
2 – (mildly lame) stands with flat back, arches when walks. alightly abnormal gait

Question 20

What is the goal (%) of LS1 and LS2 in a herd?

Answer 20

75-85%

and it would be most ideal to have only 15-25% with clinical lameness.

Question 21

_________ is key to management of lameness.

Answer 21

foot trimming

it costs $13-15 per cow.

Question 22

What can you use to develop an action plan for reducing lameness in cattle herds?

Answer 22

success factors