Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium & 8th Conference on Lameness in Ruminants

http://www.ivis.org Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium & 8th Conference on Lameness in Ruminants Feb. 28 Mar. 3, 2011 Rotorua, New Zealand Next Meeting: Aug. 11-14, 2013 - Bristol, UK Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the Conference Organizers

Locomotion score and claw disorders in Norwegian dairy cattle, assessed by claw trimmers Å.M. Sogstad 2, T.Fjeldaas 1 and O.Østerås 1 1 Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, 0033 Oslo, Norway, 2 Norwegian Cattle Health Services and TINE Extension Services, 1431 Ås, Norway Summary This cross-sectional study was part of a project on free-stall housing and the aim was to assess the use of locomotion score (LocS) performed by 15 professional claw trimmers and the relation to claw disorders recorded at claw trimming the same day. The claw trimmers scored locomotion, trimmed and recorded claw disorders in 2569 dry or lactating cows in 61 dairy herds. The relation between LocS and claw lesions for hind feet were identified by three multivariable models with the binomial outcomes: model 1: LS>1 vs LS=1, model 2: LS > 2 vs 2 and model 3: LS >3 vs 3. Herd and claw trimmer were included in the model as random effects. Our study showed that LocS performed by professional claw trimmers was fairly good at detecting moderate to severe laminitis-related lesions like sole ulcers and separations (white-line fissures and double soles). Also V-shaped heel-horn erosions can be successfully detected. The LocS method can therefore be a useful tool in the field to screen herds for locomotion problems caused by the most painful claw disorders, however it is most useful when LS>3. Key-words: locomotion score, claw disorders, claw trimmers, free-stall housing Abbreviation key: LocS=locomotion score, DIMT = days from last calving to trimming, D = dermatitis (both interdigital and digital), E = heel-horn erosion, H = hemorrhage of the white line and / or the sole, SU = sole ulcer, WLF = white line fissure, DS = double sole, Sep = WLF + DS, Cork= corkscrewed claw, WLCF = white-line crossing fissures Introduction There is a need for practical and cheap ways to detect abnormal locomotion at herd level and also at the individual level. Methods with visual evaluation of movement have been presented (Manson and Leaver, 1988; Tranter and Morris, 1991; Sprecher et al., 1997; Whay et al., 1997) and often with some adaptations, these methods are widely used in research. Thomsen et al. (2008) found acceptable levels of intra- and interobserver agreement for 5 observers with some experience in locomotion scoring in a limited study, using a modified version of the method described by Sprecher et al. (1997). However other studies have found low repeatability between observers (de Rosa et al., 2003). A scoring system has to be userfriendly in order to motivate farmers, veterinarians, claw trimmers and advisors to routinely monitor locomotion and claw condition in herds. Farmers, and advisors who, in Norway, visit most herds twice each year, can use the method to assess the need for intervention by claw trimmers and/or veterinarians. Veterinarians can use the method when working in herds with specific problems with claw health. In Norway, regular claw trimming in all cows each year is still not implemented in many herds. Claw trimmers maybe could extend their service to the farmer with this method.

In this study we used trained, professional claw trimmers who had no experience with LocS under field conditions, to assess the relationship between LocS and claw disorders detected at claw trimming. We wanted to evaluate if there is a reasonable relationship between claw disorders recorded at claw trimming and LocS performed by claw trimmers before the cows were taken to the trimming chute. Materials and methods This study was part of a large cross-sectional free-stall housing project and the first part of the selection procedure was performed before the claw project started. The present study was designed to particularly assess locomotion and claw disorders in a total of 70 herds with an approximately equal number of herds with solid rubber, solid concrete and slatted concrete in the alleys. The study population consisted of 61 herds with 2569 dry or lactating cows, mainly of the Norwegian Red breed. Altogether 14 herds were housed on solid rubber in the alleys, whereas 17 were housed on solid concrete, 23 on slatted concrete and 7 on a mix of rubber and concrete. Cows in lactation 1 were 1044 cows; 2: 678 cows and 3: 847 cows. The mean number of DIM at trimming was 177 (95 % CI: 172/182) and the mean milk production was 6437 kg (95 % CI: 6348/6526). In all herds the most-recent claw trimming was performed more than three months ago. Twenty-five herds were never at pasture. Fifteen experienced claw trimmers performed the trimming and recorded claw disorders one time within the period from the 2 nd of February 2008 to summer turn-out onto pasture. Locomotion scoring (Sprecher et al. 1997) of all cows when they were walking freely in the alleys was performed before trimming. In agreement with Thomsen et al. (2008) who found that some lame cows did not have an arched back, we adapted Sprecher s scoring system and recorded obviously lame cows with LS 3. A multivariable model was fit for hind feet for each claw disorder with LocS as dependant variable (Dohoo et al., 2003). The relation between LocS and claw disorders was identified by three multivariable models with the binomial outcomes: model 1: LS=1 vs. LS>1, model 2: LS 2 vs. >2 and model 3: LS 3 vs. >3. Input variables were the claw disorders listed in Table 1. Significant claw disorders from separate models were put into the same model. Herd nested within claw trimmer were included in the models as random effects. Results The prevalence (CI) of cows with LocS=1 was 77.4 % (75.8/79.0), LocS=2: 15.5 (14.1/16.9), LocS=3: 5.4 (4.5/6.2), LocS=4: 1.6 (1.1/2.1) and LocS=5: 0.2 (0.02/0.4). The number of cows with LocS 1, 2, 3 and >3 without (0) and with (1) each of the claw disorders in question is presented in Table 2. There were more E in cows with LocS>1 vs cows with LocS=1 (OR=1.79), in cows with LocS>2 vs cows with LocS 2 (OR=1.73) and LocS >3 vs LocS 3 (OR=1.84). There were more SU in cows with LocS>1 vs cows with LocS=1 (OR=1.84), in cows with LocS>2 vs cows with LocS 2 (OR=3.16) and LocS >3 vs LocS 3 (OR=3.13). There were more Sep in cows with LocS>1 vs cows with LocS=1 (OR=1.97), in cows with LocS>2 vs cows with LocS 2 (2.48) and LocS >3 vs LocS 3 (3.60). The random effects of herd and claw trimmer were significant for all three models, but became less significant with higher LocS. Discussion The random effect of herd being significant for all three models, shows that factors specific to each farm like housing, feeding, claw trimming routines and other management are important influencing factors on locomotion. The random effect of claw trimmer was also significant for all models, however like the herd effect, it became less significant when LocS 3 was compared with LocS>3.

Reliability and repeatability for the evaluation of LS have differed in previous studies (Flower and Weary, 2006; Thomsen, 2008; de Rosa et al., 2003), and probably the fact that relatively inexperienced observers performed the scoring in our study in addition to their usual tasks, has influenced the LocS recordings. The results show that the chance of having E, SU and SEP (WLF and DS) increases with higher LocS. However, the majority of claw disorders did not cause sufficient deviation in stance and locomotion to be recorded by the claw trimmers. Table 2 also shows that several cows were recorded with abnormal LocS without being recorded with claw disorders. Possible causes for this might be that these cows had disorders in joints, tendons or muscles of affected limbs or pain in the chest, abdomen or in the back. Bicalho et al. (2007) actually found that digital pressure revealed pain in 5.6 %, 20.1 %, 55.5 %, 79.9 % and 100 % of cows with LocS 1-5, respectively, indicating that not all painful lesions were detected in our study. Whay et al. (1997) actually reported that claw disorders accounted for a quite low variation in LocS (48 %). Our study showed that LocS performed by professional claw trimmers was fairly good at detecting moderate to severe laminitis-related lesions like SU and SEP. Also moderate and severe heel-horn erosions can be successfully detected. Cows with the laminitis-related lesions SU and SEP had highest LocS. This agrees with Sogstad et al. (2005) and partly with Tadich et al. (2009), who also used the Sprecher method, and found that SU and DS (and interdigital phlegmon) were associated with poor locomotion. They also concluded that the presence of a lesion does not necessarily imply increased LocS. Higher LocS in cows with SU is also in agreement with Rushen and de Passille (2008). Heel horn erosion and Cork appeared to cause mild to moderate signs of discomfort. Frankena et al. (2009) found that digital D and severe interdigital D/E were associated with increased LocS. Corkscrewed claw had the highest prevalence in our study and because this disorder was associated with moderate deviation from normal gait when LS 2 was compared to LS>2 and probably predispose to other claw disorders, it should be considered important to eliminate from a herd. Dermatitis, H and WLCF were not significantly associated with LocS in our study. Digital D has been associated with moderate lameness (Berry, 2006). This is in contrast to Rushen and de Passille (2008) who found no change in LocS for cows with digital D. Because most of the cases of D in our study were assumed to be interdigital, it was not surprising that D was not associated with increased LocS. We recorded disorders present at claw trimming and lesions like H of the sole and the white line are signs of prior laminitis which might have been painful at the time of occurrence only. Most WLCF do not cause pain or lameness, however at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science white-line abscesses occasionally have been found in connection with deep crossing fissures. Conclusion Using LocS to screen herds can be a useful additional aid when evaluating claw health and need for intervention in a herd and in individual animals. However, when performed by claw trimmers, it is not at all sufficiently reliable to detect all disorders causing discomfort and there are also many false positives if only claw disorders are in focus. It must therefore be emphasized that a thorough investigation of locomotion problems in a herd also includes claw trimming and recording of claw disorders. Acknowledgement The authors would like to thank the participating claw trimmers, farmers and technicians for their help and support during the field study and Kirsten Bredeveien for punching the data. Access to data records from the farms was given by the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording

System (NDHRS) in agreement number 3/2006. The study was financially supported by the Research Council of Norway, Agricultural Agreement Research Fund and Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products. References Berry, S.L. (2006) Infectious diseases of the bovine claw. In: Proceeding of the 14 th International Symposium and 6 th Conference on Lameness in Ruminants. Colonia, Uruguay, 52-57 Bicalho, R.C., Cheong, S.H., Cramer, G., Guard C.L. (2007). Association between a visual and an automated locomotion score in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 90, 3294-3300. Dohoo, I., Martin, W., Stryhn, H. (2003). Veterinary Epidemiologic Research. AVC Inc. Charlottetown, Transcontinental Prince Edward Island. Flower, F.C., Weary, D.M. (2006). Effect of hoof pathologies on subjective assessments of dairy cow gait. J. Dairy Sci. 89, 139-146. Frankena, K., Somers, J.G., Schouten, W.G., van Stek, J.V., Metz, J.H., Stassen, E.N., Graat, E.A. (2009). The effect of digital lesions and floor type on locomotion score in Dutch dairy cows. Prev. Vet. Med. 88, 150-7. Manson, F.J., Leaver, J.D. (1988). The influence of concentrate amount on locomotion and clinical lameness in dairy cattle. Anim. Prod. 47, 185-190. de Rosa, G., Tripaldi, C., Napolitano, F., Saltalamacchia, F., Grasso, F., Bisegna, V., Bordi, A. (2003). Repeatability of some animal-related variables in dairy cows and buffaloes. Anim. Welfare. 12, 625-9 Rushen, J., de Passille, A.M. (2008). Validating gait scoring to detect lameness in dairy cows. In: Proceedings of the 15 th International Symposium and 7 th Conference on Lameness in Ruminants. Kuopio, Finland, 223. Sogstad, Å.M., Fjeldaas, T., Østerås, O., Forshell, K.P.(2005) Prevalence of claw lesions in Norwegian dairy cattle housed in tie stalls and free stalls. Prev. Vet. Med. 70, 191-209. Sprecher, D.J., Hostetler, D.E., Kaneene, J.B. (1997). A lameness scoring system that uses posture and gait to predict dairy cattle reproductive performance. Theriogenology. 47, 1179-1187. Tadich, N., Flor, E., Green, L. (2010). Associations between hoof lesions and locomotion score in 1098 unsound dairy cows. Vet. J. 184, 60-5. Thomsen, P.T., Munksgaard, L., Tøgersen, F.A. (2008) Evaluation of a lameness scoring system for dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91, 119-126. Tranter, W.P., Morris, R.S. (1991) A case study of lameness in three dairy herds. N. Z. Vet. J. 39, 88-96.

Whay, H.R., Waterman, A.E., Webster, A.J. (1997). Associations between locomotion, claw lesions and nociceptive threshold in dairy heifers during the peri-partum period. Vet. J.154, 155-161.

Table 1. Definition of claw disorders recorded at trimming Lesion Abbreviation Definition for minimum sign of lesion being present Dermatitis 1 D Superficial, hyperaemic, slightly exudative lesion of the digital/interdigital skin Heel-horn erosion E V-shaped fissures or craters of the heel/bulb not affecting the corium Haemorrhages H Haemorrhagic discoloration covering >20% of the white line and / or the sole Sole ulcer SU Exposed, unaffected corium at the typical site White-line fissure WLF Longitudinal fissure which disappears with deep cut beneath normal trimming level Double sole DS Disintegration of the deep part of the sole horn parallel to the bearing surface Separation Sep Cows with WLF or DS or both Corkscrewed hind claw Cork Inwards bent abaxial wall was with a curved dorsal edge/border and a slightly egg-shaped bearing surface White-line crossing fissures WLCF Multiple short fissures crossing the abaksial white line 1 Including both interdigital and digital dermatitis.

Table 2. Number of cows with locomotion score (LocS) 1, 2, 3 and >3 without (0) and with (1) dermatitis (D), heel-horn erosion (E), haemorrhage of the white line and the sole (H), sole ulcer (SU), white-line fissure (WLF), double sole (DS), separation (SEP=WLF+DS), whiteline crossing fissure (WLCF) and corkscrew claw (Cork) in 2569 cows in 2008. Disorder Class LocS=1 LocS=2 LocS=3 LocS>3 n % n % n % n % D 1 0 1863 78.8 336 14.2 122 5.2 44 1.9 1 125 61.3 61 29.9 16 7.8 2 1.0 E 0 1651 78.5 315 15.0 105 5.0 32 1.5 1 337 72.3 82 17.6 33 7.1 14 3.0 H 0 1773 77.9 350 15.4 116 5.1 38 1.7 1 215 73.6 47 16.1 22 7.5 8 2.7 SU 0 1940 77.7 387 15.5 128 5.1 42 1.7 1 48 66.7 10 13.9 10 13.9 4 5.6 WLF 0 1816 77.8 358 15.4 123 5.3 36 1.5 1 172 72.9 39 16.5 15 6.4 10 4.2 DS 0 1944 77.9 387 15.5 125 5.0 41 1.6 1 44 61.1 10 13.9 13 18.1 5 6.9 SEP 0 1781 78.3 350 15.4 113 5.0 32 1.4 1 207 70.7 47 16.0 25 8.5 14 4.8 WLCF 0 1902 77.2 386 15.7 133 5.4 44 1.8 1 86 82.7 11 10.6 5 4.8 2 1.9 Cork 0 1522 78.6 296 15.3 87 4.5 31 1.6 1 466 73.6 101 16.0 51 8.1 15 2.4 1 Including both interdigital and digital dermatitis.