Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence proportion of lameness in feedlot cattle and the associated risk factors. Lameness was studied in two southern Alberta feedlots over a 2 yr period. The incidence proportion of lameness was 36.3% for all calves pulled for treatment. Risk factors associated (P < 0.0001) with increased lameness included body weight (BW), type of cattle, source, stocking density, percentage of forage in the diet, season, precipitation 1 d before diagnosis, and average temperature range 3 d prior to diagnosis. As BW (P < 0.001) increased, the odds of becoming lame also increased. Yearlings and Holsteins had greater (P < 0.001) incidence of lameness than respiratory disease. The odds of becoming lame decreased (P < 0.001) with increased pen density and percentage of forage in the diet. Lameness was greatest in spring (P < 0.001) with the odds of becoming lame being more likely (P < 0.001) with increased precipitation and temperature range (P < 0.001). Use of a multifactorial approach including animal, managerial, and environmental factors in a single analysis will improve our understanding of the risk of increased lameness and aid in development of strategies to reduce its incidence in feedlots.
Highlights
Lameness is defined as a deviation in gait resulting from pain or discomfort associated with hoof and leg injuries and disease (Greenough 1997)
The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of lameness, and identify risk factors related to animal, feedlot management, and environmental factors in two southern Alberta feedlots
A growing number of feedlots finish dairy steers, which may increase the risk of lameness associated with digital dermatitis in all feedlot cattle; it is possible that dairy origin calves bring DD into a feedlot as DD has been commonly reported in dairy herds compared with beef cattle (Sullivan et al 2013)
Summary
Lameness is defined as a deviation in gait resulting from pain or discomfort associated with hoof and leg injuries and disease (Greenough 1997). Given its association with pain, lameness is a significant welfare issue in all livestock. With respect to Canadian studies, Tessitore et al (2011) found the prevalence of lameness in feedlot chronic pens varied between 32.8% and 52.8%, and a study conducted in Alberta feedlots found that lameness accounted for 32.3% of all cattle diagnosed with a disease (Davis-Unger et al 2019). Given the high prevalence of the disease coupled with the low number of studies, it is not surprising that lameness has been identified as a welfare priority in North American beef cattle and requiring additional research (Tucker et al 2015). Understanding the risk factors and prevalence of lameness is necessary to reduce pain and improve feedlot economics
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