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Investigation Strategies for Laminitis Problem Herds^*

School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706-1102

Corresponding author: K. V. Nordlund; e-mail: nordlunk{at}svm.vetmed.wisc.edu.

Lameness in dairy cows is the result of many disease conditions, and a systematic approach is required to diagnose the predominant causes and identify important risk factors. Lameness prevalence can be quantified using locomotion scoring systems. Entire herds can be scored quite easily as they walk access lanes. If lameness prevalence exceeds 15% of the herd, it is important to differentiate the cause. Improved hoof-health recording systems have become commonplace among many professional hoof trimmers, which has made it easier to monitor the prevalence of infectious and noninfectious causes of lameness. If laminitis and its associated claw horn lesions are identified as a major problem, environmental and ruminal acidosis risk factors should be assessed.

Environmental risk factors for laminitis include aberrant and excess standing behavior, exposure to concrete and hard floor surfaces, and abrupt introduction to confinement systems from pastures or bedded packs. Total daily time spent by cows in holding areas and parlors can be assessed, emphasizing the longest times for the last individual cows to come through the parlor. Stall usage indices are being developed to identify poorly designed or maintained free stalls. The diagnosis of ruminal acidosis is made with a combination of clinical signs, ration evaluation, ruminal-fluid analysis, feces examination, or milk fat indicators. Rumenocentesis is a direct measure of rumen pH that can provide diagnostic information, provided that adequate samples are collected. This paper presents a clinical approach to investigations of lameness problem herds and discusses strengths and weaknesses of various tests to identify risk factors for laminitis.

Key Words: lameness • laminitis • ruminal acidosis • stall usage

Abbreviation key: CCQ = cow comfort quotient, CCI = cow comfort index, SSI = stall standing index, SARA = subacute ruminal acidosis

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