OCCURRENCE OF CLAW DISEASES IN DAIRY CATTLE IN
IRAN.
A. R. Mohamadnia
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Shahrekord
Abstract:
Hoof lesions were reported as the main cause of dairy cattle lameness (90%) in most
studies. Depending on geographical area claw horn or dermal lesions reported as the
main lesions of the hoof. No national recording system for hoof diseases existed in
Iran and just some hoof trimmers or veterinarians got their own data.
This current study has been done to evaluate the incidence of some claw lesions in
Iran. Ten dairy farms in different parts of Iran were included in this study. A
recording protocol for claw diseases was created. All hoof trimmers were taught how
to diagnose the most common claw diseases and use of recording protocol. Available
records were from all ten farms which altogether 11678 cows/ heifers got their claws
trimmed. Five of the herds get benefit of the freestall barns and other housed in a
straw yard system.
The study conducted in a 12 month period from November 2006- September 2007.
Total of 9580 cows were included in this study and records of 31933 hoof trimming
were analyzed as 11678 of the hooves during this period were recorded to have one of
the following disorders: White line disease (WLD), Sole ulcer (SU), heel erosion
(HE), interdigital phlegmone (IPH), double sole (DS) and digital dermatitis (DD).
Presence of the lesion in just one limb or digit recorded as a data and including in
analysis. All data were reported descriptively.
Digital dermatitis recorded as the most prevalent disease (34.71%) that has been
detected in seven dairies (70%) under study. Sole ulcer (23.11%), WLD (16.29%),
HE (12.2%), DS (7.39%) and IPH (6.27%) has been detected in all other dairies.
Despite the higher frequency of digital dermatitis, its incidence is less than sole ulcer
or white line disease in certain areas.
Introduction:
Lameness is one of the most important problems in dairy farms that make financial
loss for farmer and pain for animal (Clarkson 1996). Lameness has the third place in
economic losses of dairy farming after infertility and mastitis; however, in developing
countries possibly infectious diseases and malnutrition precede lameness (Weaver et
al. 2005). Incidence of the lameness in last 40 years has been increased that maybe is
a result of increase milk production, herd size, modified management indices and
breed (Whitaker 1983).
Claw disorders are frequently reported in dairy cattle all over the world. Weaver
reported that diseases of the claw account for about 90% of all lameness incidents
(Weaver 2000). Claw disorders are distinguished at clinical level (i.e. being lame) and
at subclinical level (i.e. digital disorders recognizable at hoof trimming). Depending
on geographical area claw horn or dermal lesions reported as the main lesions of the
hoof. The most common lesions detected in acute lameness in dairy cows recorded as
sole ulcer, white line abscess, digital dermatitis and interdigital phlegmon (Murray et
al. 1996). Interdigital dermatitis and heel horn erosion are, in most cases subclinical
hoof lesions that are related to inferior hygiene and the presence of contagious agents.
Since no national recording system for lameness detection and recording established
in Iran, knowing the extent of lameness and its causes can make a basal point for
establishing such a national recording system. In other hand different management
system and production level in different dairy scales could potentially affect the
prevalence of the disease. This current study has been done to evaluate the incidence
of claw lesions in Iran.
Materials and methods:
The study conducted in a 12 month period from November 2006- September 2007.
Ten dairy farms in different parts of Iran were included in this study. A recording
protocol for claw diseases was created. All hoof trimmers were taught how to
diagnose the most common claw diseases and use of recording protocol. Data
recorded in a requested sheet (Figure 1) and recorded in a computerized format. Hoof
trimming were done on the regular basis in all farms as all cows were trimmed 100120 days after parturition, before drying off and also all cows with locomotion scores
3 and higher in a five point scale were inspected for possible lesions.
Figure 1: Data recording sheet
Animal Date of WLD SU HE IPH DS DD
ID
trimming
number
Five herds get benefit of the freestall barns and other housed in a straw yard system.
Results and discussion:
Total of 9580 cows were included in this study and records of 31933 hoof trimming
were analyzed as 11678 (36.57%) of the hooves during this period were recorded to
have one of the following disorders: White line disease (WLD), Sole ulcer (SU), heel
erosion (HE), interdigital phlegmone (IPH), double sole (DS) and digital dermatitis
(DD). Presence of the lesion in just one limb or digit recorded as a data and including
in analysis. All data were reported descriptively.
Digital dermatitis recorded as the most prevalent disease (34.71%) that has been
detected in seven dairies under study. Sole ulcer (23.11%), WLD (16.29%), HE
(12.2%), DS (7.39%) and IPH (6.27%) has been detected in all other dairies. Despite
the higher frequency of digital dermatitis, its incidence is less than sole ulcer or white
line disease in certain areas.
Table 2: Total incidence of hoof lesions
Lesion
Incidence
DD
34.71
SU
23.11
WLD
16.29
HE
12.2
DS
7.39
IPH
6.27
It seems that 1.21 times a lesion has been detected in each cow during this current
study that is a relatively high incidence of the lesions. Digital dermatitis lesions
mostly diagnosed in regular trimming schedules and didn't make clinical lameness in
cows.
Incidence of the disease was different in geographical areas as digital dermatitis only
recorded in 7 dairies and 3 dairies were free of the disease. Most clean farms located
in central part of Iran with lower annual rain fall and also follow an intensive hoof
care program.
No analysis on difference of the lesions in free stalls and straw yards were done in this
current study. Cook et al. reported a prevalence of 21.1 and 23.9 % in summer and
winter that is lower than current records (Cook 2003). However in Holzhauer et al.
report total frequency of 69% that showed at least one lesion in each foot (Holzhauer
et al. 2004).
Geographical distribution of DD is different, as in previous reports some part of a
country were free of the disease, however higher (40.6%)((Bell et al. 2004) and lower
(4%) prevalence of the disease were reported previously. In this current study it was
obvious that whenever digital dermatitis were recorded in a herd it was the most
prevalent disease.
Further study should be done to evaluate the effects of season, food supplementation
on the incidence of the digital lesions.
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