Heel Erosion and Other Interdigital Disorders in Dairy Cows: Associations with Season, Cow Characteristics, Disease, and Production
Open Access
- 1 April 1991
- journal article
- Published by American Dairy Science Association in Journal of Dairy Science
- Vol. 74 (4), 1299-1309
- https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78285-4
Abstract
Epidemiologic associations between variables obtainable from dairy cow records and the occurrence of heel erosion, interdigital dermatitis, and interdigital hyperplasia at claw trimmings were estimated with multivariable logistic regression analysis on data from 1170 and 542 cows in lactation 1 and lactations 2 to 9, respectively. In the 17 herds, heel erosion, interdigital dermatitis, and hyperplasia occurred among 43.8, 4.5, and .9% of cows in lactation 1 and among 69.1, 7.6 and 5.9% of cows in lactations 2 to 9, respectively. Severity of heel erosion increased with parity, and risk increased with stage of lactation. Strong seasonal effects were present. Various combinations of veterinary treatments were associated with heel erosion and hyperplasia depending on parity, stage of lactation, and the presence of other claw disorders. In contrast, veterinary treatment had a protective effect for interdigital dermatitis in lactations 2 to 9. Severe degrees of sole ulcer increased the risk of heel erosion and interdigital dermatitis. The digital disorders were strongly associated in lactation 1 but not in later lactations. Heel erosion and hyperplasia were highly repeatable from one lactation to another.Keywords
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Sole Ulcers in Dairy Cattle: Associations with Season, Cow Characteristics, Disease, and ProductionJournal of Dairy Science, 1991
- Genetic aspects of claw disorders, claw measurements and ‘type’ scores for feet in Friesian cattleLivestock Production Science, 1986
- Importance of claw quality in cattle: Review and recommendations to achieve genetic improvement. Report of the E.A.A.P. working group on “claw quality in cattle”Livestock Production Science, 1986
- The effect of herd characteristics on claw disorders and claw measurements in FriesiansLivestock Production Science, 1986
- Effect of wet weather on lameness in dairy cattleVeterinary Record, 1986
- Effects of stage of lactation, month, age, origin and heart girth on lameness in dairy cattleVeterinary Record, 1985
- Effects of season, herd size, management system and veterinary practice on the lameness incidence in dairy cattleVeterinary Record, 1983
- The Influence of Breed, Age, Body Weight and Season on Digital Diseases and Hoof Size in Dairy Cows3Zentralblatt für Veterinärmedizin Reihe A, 1981