| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Food and Land Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
1 Corresponding author: fcf{at}interchange.ubc.ca
To explore how hoof pathologies affect dairy cattle gait, we studied cows with sole hemorrhages (n = 14), sole ulcers (n = 7), and those with no visible injuries (n = 17). Overall gait assessments, scored from video using a 1 to 5 numerical rating system (1 = sound, 5 = severely lame) and a continuous 100-unit visual analog scale, found cows having sole ulcers had poorer gait than healthy cows (mean ± SEM: 4.0 ± 0.13 vs. 3.1 ± 0.08, and 59 ± 3 vs. 46 ± 2, respectively). Six gait attributes (back arch, head bob, tracking-up, joint flexion, asymmetric gait, and reluctance to bear weight) were also assessed using continuous 100-unit scales. Compared with healthy cows, those having sole ulcers walked with a more pronounced back arch (12 ± 3 vs. 28 ± 4), more jerky head movement (2 ± 2 vs. 10 ± 3), shortened strides (7 ± 2 vs. 26 ± 4), and more uneven weighting among the limbs (16 ± 2 vs. 32 ± 3). Of all measures, the numerical rating system most effectively discriminated healthy cows from those with sole ulcers (R2 = 0.73), classifying 92% of animals correctly. No differences were detected among cows with and without sole hemorrhages. Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were reasonable for all measures (R2 
0.64) except joint flexion and asymmetric gait. In summary, subjective assessments of dairy cattle gait provide valid and reliable approaches to identifying cattle with sole ulcers.
Key Words: cattle • lameness • behavior • hoof pathology
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F. Bernardi, J. Fregonesi, C. Winckler, D. M. Veira, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, and D. M. Weary The stall-design paradox: Neck rails increase lameness but improve udder and stall hygiene J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2009; 92(7): 3074 - 3080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Liu, N. K. Neerchal, U. Tasch, R. M. Dyer, and P. G. Rajkondawar Enhancing the prediction accuracy of bovine lameness models through transformations of limb movement variables J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2009; 92(6): 2539 - 2550. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. T. Thomsen Rapid screening method for lameness in dairy cows Vet Rec., May 30, 2009; 164(22): 689 - 690. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. Channon, A. M. Walker, T. Pfau, I. M. Sheldon, and A. M. Wilson Variability of Manson and Leaver locomotion scores assigned to dairy cows by different observers Vet Rec., March 28, 2009; 164(13): 388 - 392. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Hinterhofer, H. Haider, V. Apprich, J. C. Ferguson, S. N. Collins, and C. Stanek Development of a twenty-one-component finite element distal hind limb model: Stress and strain in bovine digit structures as a result of loading on different floorings J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2009; 92(3): 972 - 979. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Chapinal, A. M. de Passille, and J. Rushen Weight distribution and gait in dairy cattle are affected by milking and late pregnancy J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2009; 92(2): 581 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. M. Weary, J. M. Huzzey, and M. A. G. von Keyserlingk BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: Using behavior to predict and identify ill health in animals J Anim Sci, February 1, 2009; 87(2): 770 - 777. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. C. Flower, M. Sedlbauer, E. Carter, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. J. Sanderson, and D. M. Weary Analgesics Improve the Gait of Lame Dairy Cattle J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2008; 91(8): 3010 - 3014. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. D. Krawczel, C. T. Hill, H. M. Dann, and R. J. Grant Short Communication: Effect of Stocking Density on Indices of Cow Comfort J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2008; 91(5): 1903 - 1907. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Kujala, M. Pastell, and T. Soveri Use of force sensors to detect and analyse lameness in dairy cows Vet Rec., March 22, 2008; 162(12): 365 - 368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. O'Driscoll, L. Boyle, P. French, and A. Hanlon The Effect of Out-Wintering Pad Design on Hoof Health and Locomotion Score of Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2008; 91(2): 544 - 553. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. T. Thomsen, L. Munksgaard, and F. A. Togersen Evaluation of a Lameness Scoring System for Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2008; 91(1): 119 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. Dyer, N. K. Neerchal, U. Tasch, Y. Wu, P. Dyer, and P. G. Rajkondawar Objective Determination of Claw Pain and Its Relationship to Limb Locomotion Score in Dairy Cattle J Dairy Sci, October 1, 2007; 90(10): 4592 - 4602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Pastell and M. Kujala A Probabilistic Neural Network Model for Lameness Detection J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2007; 90(5): 2283 - 2292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Hernandez-Mendo, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. M. Veira, and D. M. Weary Effects of Pasture on Lameness in Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2007; 90(3): 1209 - 1214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. C. Flower, A. M. de Passille, D. M. Weary, D. J. Sanderson, and J. Rushen Softer, Higher-Friction Flooring Improves Gait of Cows With and Without Sole Ulcers J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2007; 90(3): 1235 - 1242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Neveux, D. M. Weary, J. Rushen, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, and A. M. de Passille Hoof discomfort changes how dairy cattle distribute their body weight. J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2006; 89(7): 2503 - 2509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. C. Flower, D. J. Sanderson, and D. M. Weary Effects of milking on dairy cow gait. J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2006; 89(6): 2084 - 2089. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
