Laminitis

Interdigital necrodocillosis

Mortellaro

Pododermatitis (all pictures from: www.portal-rind.de; Dr. A. Fiedler "Klauenkrankheiten")

Claw diseases

Claw problems are consequences from a bad floor (see also "Floor and walking areas") Problems with claws lead to passive cows, which can cause problems with nutriton of  cows, since they cannot walk to a feeding ally or to water as often as healthy cows. And a bad condition and nutrition can cause problems with the fertility,too. Thats why it is important to try to avoid these problem as much as possible .

Lameness is almost always a painful condition, and therefore a major animal welfare issue, too. Today lameness is at an unacceptably high level.

Conformation

The most striking feature of foot lameness in dairy cows is that approximately 75% of cases occur in outer claws of a hind feet. This is attributed to aconformation of a cow. The distention of a huge udder splays the back feet out.

Nutrition/ Environment

There are four different groups of diseases which are a signal for the way of farm management:

• Pododermatitis - inflammation or trauma to the sole of the foot; White line disease - damage leading to separation of the wall and sole;  Traumas due to restlessness in the herd, slippery and uneven floors, often connected to Laminitis
• Laminitis -. acute or chronic inflammation of the sensitive laminae; Metabolic disease, due to mistakes in feeding (too much concentrate) and housing (overcrowded, slippery slatted floors, bad laying boxes)
• Interdigital necrodocillosis - Foul-in-the-foot; Infection disease (bacteria)- eczema, due to a high infection pressure, too wet floors,
• Mortellaro – inflammation in the skin above the claws (spot shaped); Infection disease (bacteria), due to a high infection pressure and a bad immuna

So the following things lead to an increase in claw problems:

• Poor farmer's awareness of the causes of lameness and of prevention and treatment
• A housing system which keeps cows on their feet for long periods
• Poor cubicle design, insufficient bedding and inadequate number of cubicles
• More than 40% smooth walking surfaces
• High infection risk (too wet or too dirty)
• Untrained staff responsible for hoof trimming, and no organised hoof-trimming policy, particularly during the high-risk period in midwinter
• Problems with feeding

Back to "Diseases"

Page updated 23.5.2006