Early detection and treatment of lame cows. Effect on duration and prevalence of lesion-specific lameness.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of specific hoof lesions on the locomotion score (LS) as well as the effect of early detection and treatment on duration and prevalence of lesion-specific lameness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a dairy herd in Lower Saxony, Germany, with 144 lactating cows, claw trimming was performed by a professional claw trimmer at the beginning and the end of a 41-week trial period. Weekly a veterinarian assessed the LS according to Sprecher et al. (1997) in 99 cows. The front and hind claws of cows with an LS > 1 were examined and treated within 5 days. For individual diagnoses, the duration of lameness was calculated as the number of weeks from first treatment until recovery (LS = 1). RESULTS: In total, 580 examinations and treatments were performed on 94 cows. There were 189 new lameness cases with a total of 290 diagnoses. At the first treatment, 81.0% of the cows displayed an LS of 2. Cows with digital dermatitis (DD), heel horn erosion and white line disease (WLD) more often had an LS > 2 compared to cows with Rusterholz' sole ulcer, interdigital hyperplasia or inadequate claw length/posture (p < 0.05). Cows with only one affected leg, more often had an LS > 2 than cows with several affected legs (p < 0.1). Lameness caused by WLD and arthritis/periarthritis remained for the longest time period. The prevalence of sole haemorrhages and/or double soles, WLD, interdigital dermatitis and interdigital hyperplasia decreased significantly during the test period. Prevalence of sole ulcer (sole ulcer and Rusterholz' sole ulcer) and DD remained unaffected. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Locomotion score was affected by the type of claw/limb disorder and the number of diseased limbs. Regular locomotion scoring and continuous treatment of cows with an LS > 1 is associated with a decrease in the prevalence of several claw lesions. Therefore, prevalence of severe claw lesions like WLD, which was associated with a long duration of lameness, can be reduced. In contrast, for decreasing prevalence of digital dermatitis more than weekly treatment of every cow with LS > 1 is required. Preventive measures like footbaths or improved hygiene should accompany the individual animal treatment.

Body condition change ante- and postpartum, health and reproductive performance in German Holstein cows.

The effects of body condition score (BCS) change and status ante- and postpartum (pp) on health and reproductive performance in 234 German Holstein cows from eight dairy farms were evaluated. BCS was determined from 6 weeks antepartum until 20 weeks pp in 2-week intervals. Three and 5 weeks pp progesterone concentrations in blood serum were determined to detect the presence of luteal tissue as an indicator of cyclicity. The incidence of various diseases, percent cycling cows, reproductive measures and culling rate were assessed. Data were subjected to logistic regression to account for possible herd and lactation number effects. Cows with a low BCS status (<3.0) at calving and during early lactation (4-10 weeks pp) were at a higher risk of suffering from lameness (OR 2.9-9.4), not being cycling at 3 and/or 5 weeks pp (OR 2.24-3.99) and being culled (OR 2.56-2.79) than cows in better body condition (> or =3.0) In addition, cows with a low BCS status at parturition were at a higher risk of developing endometritis (OR 2.95) and becoming pregnant later than 105 days pp (OR 5.92) than cows with a BCS > or = 3.0. At 10 weeks pp, the risk of dystocia (OR 4.10) or retained placenta (OR 2.78) at the preceding calving and not being pregnant at 200 days pp (OR 2.42) was higher in cows with a BCS < 3.0 than with a BCS > or = 3.0. Cows with no BCS loss antepartum were more likely to have an interval from calving to first artificial insemination of <80 days and <105 days open, to be cycling at 3 and 5 weeks pp and to be pregnant at 200 days pp than cows with a BCS loss of >0.25 (OR 2.44-6.67). Furthermore, cows with no BCS loss from calving to 4 weeks pp had a lower risk of suffering from displaced abomasum than cows with a slight or a severe BCS loss (OR 0.09-0.07 respectively). In conclusion, our results suggest that body condition loss during the antepartal period affected BCS status at parturition and to a certain extent during lactation which was linked to a higher incidence of reproductive disorders and lameness, a higher culling rate and lower reproductive performance.

Risk factors for perinatal mortality in dairy cattle: cow and foetal factors, calving process.

It was the aim of this study to identify risk factors of perinatal mortality (PM) on a large dairy farm in Germany. Four hundred and sixty-three cows were observed continuously around calving. Data such as the lactation number, body condition score, pelvic measurements, duration of second stage of labour (SSL), degree of abdominal press (AP), presentation/position/posture of the calf, calving classification, various measurements of the calves and every action of the barn staff were documented. Calves born dead and those that died within 24h were classified as cases of PM. Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for the dependent variables PM, SSL and AP. 9.7% of all calves born (n=483) were classified as PM. In the logistic regression model, only SSL and presentation/position/posture of the foetus remained as significant effects for PM. The odds ratio for PM was 0.20, when SSL was < or =120 min, and 0.33, when the calves were born in anterior presentation, upper position and normal posture. With regard to SSL, primipara, insufficient AP, assisted calvings and as a trend, work shift changeover, these were risk factors for a prolonged SSL beyond 120 min. The risk for insufficient AP was lower when the calves were born spontaneously, in anterior presentation and as single calves. In conclusion, the duration of SSL and presentation/position/posture of the calf seemed to be key risk factors for PM. Interventions should be considered when SSL lasts longer than 2h. Insufficient monitoring around parturition had a negative effect on the duration of SSL and thereby, indirectly on PM.