Laminitis is also known as lameness is defined as the inflammation of the sensitive structures of the hoof which may be of infectious or nutritional in origin. Non-infectious causes of lameness affecting the bovine digit are ulcers, white line disease and traumatic lesion of the sole. Some conditions of laminitis are predisposed by metabolic disorders such as ruminal acidosis. Deficiency of trace minerals and vitamins also lead to laminitis in the dairy farm.
Lameness is a major disease with heavy economic loss in dairy and beef farms. In large herds where mechanized systems are often more readily available, lame cows are treated by supervisors or farm employee itself. As a consequence, foot care and claw trimming is performed by either commercial trimmers or farm employees. So understanding of laminitis is of utmost importance to the diary and beef farmers for the prevention of laminitis.
Different forms of laminitis
Depending on the severity of the condition laminitis can be acute, chronic and subclinical form. Acute laminitis is most commonly seen in first lactation cows within 30 days of lactation. Inflammation is severe and sudden. Inflammation of the corium is evident. It is diagnosed by redness, stiffness, pain, unwilling to walk. Dairy cows will stand with arched back with camped under posture. Animals spend most of the time lying down.
Chronic cases of laminitis are mild and undetectable. Sometimes changes can be seen in hoof wall. In chronic cases claw widens, flatten and develop horizontal ridges. Inflammation develops more gradually.
Subclinical laminitis is more common. This can be a long and slow process depending upon persistency of low-grade insults. The inflammation ultimately results in internal hemorrhaging. It is syndrome associated with a variety of lesions. It may be associated with third phalanx or production of poor quality horn or less resistant to injuries. Poor quality horn causes structural abnormality of the capsule of claw.
There are some foot problems which are associated with subclinical laminitis. They are Sole ulcers, White line Disease, Heel erosions, Bruised soles, Sole abscesses, Toe ulcers, Wall cracks.
Sole ulcers are also known as pododermatitis. It is a circumscribed loss of horny sole that exposes the corium. The typical location of the lesion is near the axial border of the heel-sole junction of the lateral claws of the hind feet. Sole ulcers on the front feet are rare but when they occur they usually involve the medial claws. Bilateral lesions of the hindfeet are common. Lameness usually isn’t severe until granulation tissue develops from the exposed corium and protrudes from the defect in the sole.
White line disease is a non-infectious condition that occurs when the sole separates from the side wall of the hoof, allowing foreign material to penetrate and infect the white line region.White line disease is a major cause of lameness with the incidence in older cows being as high as 35%.
Heel horn erosion or ‘slurry heel’ is recognized by the damage to the surface of the bulb of the heel. Actual evidence of mobility problems becomes evident after severity of laminitis. It is often linked to interdigital dermatitis. It is more commonly associated with poor hygienic conditions in housed dairy herds and towards the end of the winter.
Sole bruising is recognized by the presence of red and sometimes yellow marks or areas on the sole and often occurs where the sole is particularly thin.Any disturbance in blood flow to the corium can result in the necrosis of the corium tissues, bleeding and swelling – often referred to as ‘laminitis’ – which eventually manifests itself in areas of sole bruising. It can also lead to separation of the soft tissues of the foot and the pedal bone can become misplaced, compressing the soft tissues within the foot, causing sole ulcers.
Sole abscess is located between sensitive laminae and horny sole of the hoof. Purulent exudate is found in the abscess. Abscess is caused due to damage in the integrity of the sole. Damage to the sole leads to bacterial growth under the sole.
The consequences of foot related diseases are much greater than the treatment costs. Reduced milk yields, lower reproductive performance, increased involuntary cull rates, discarded milk and the additional labor costs to manage cows with laminitis accounts for the largest monetary loses.
Prevention and control of laminitis
Ruminal acidosis and trace mineral deficiency play big role in prevalence of laminitis. Zinc is important for synthesis of keratin in the hoof. There are several technologies for mineral supplementation in the dairy farms. Zinc propionate provides zinc with higher bioavailability. It provides zinc with higher retention in body. As per NRC 2001, 45 ppm of zinc to be fed on dry matter basis of total mixed ration.
Lameness is usually a multifactorial problem having origin from infection, management and feeding. Prevention of the herd from laminitis can be done by farm audit for management and feeding program, history of illness and proper diagnosis of the lesion.
Antibiotic therapy is practiced for infectious causes of laminitis.
Floor has big impact on occurrence of laminitis in dairy cows. Concrete floor with rough surface physically damages hoof to develop cracks. So laminitis develops in dairy cows.
Ruminal acidosis and mineral nutrition have a big role in pathogenesis of laminitis. Ruminal acidosis is managed by feeding a ration with enough physically effective fibre and sodium bi carbonate. Zinc and copper have important role in prevention of laminitis. There are several technologies for mineral nutrition in animals. Propionate technology provides essential minerals at very high bio-availability. The retention of minerals is also high enough to prevent laminitis effectively in dairy cows.
Some of the following managemental tools will benefit the farm from laminitis.
1. Provide soft, smooth and dry floor in the farm.
2. Provide adequate effective fiber.
3. Feed the cows with balanced feed.
4. Provide foot bath with disinfectant and copper sulphate 5 %.
5. Regular monitoring of cows for BCS and locomotion scoring. Treat cows at earliest for best effective result.
6. Check hoof very regularly by a trained personnel.
7. Regular hoof trimming at 6 month interval.
8. Avoid overcrowding and provide adequate exercise and comfort.
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