Claw disorders in dairy cattle: Effects on production, welfare and farm economics with possible prevention methods

Abstract

The aim of this review was a comprehensive evaluation of existing knowledge on non-genetic aspects of claw disorders and possible prevention methods in dairy herds. The interest in improving farm animal welfare is increasing rapidly and it is necessary to address issues related to negative impact of claw lesions in dairy cows. It can be predicted that the biggest improvement in claw health will come in the near future from the selection strategies improving those traits in dairy cattle populations across the world. However, those traits have a rather low heritability. Thus to efficiently improve the claw health, the environmental aspects of claw disorders need to be fully evaluated and monitored. Here the claw disorders are grouped based on their causes: infectious or non-infectious (i.e. laminitis-related and traumatic). We investigated the risk factors for each of those groups. Infectious disorders are mainly affected by floor, bed, bedding types and cleanliness; the laminitis-related claw disorders are associated with a diet; whereas the traumatic disorders are caused for herd management and housing. We evaluated also the negative consequences of claw disorders on cow's physiology and welfare. Laminitis-related and infectious claw disorders lead mostly to a decrease in milk yield. They are also responsible for reproduction disorders and significantly increased days open. In addition, claw disorders seem to reduce the time spent eating and feed-intake itself, and thus lead to a decrease of carcass quality and/or body weight. Also those physiological consequences of claw disorders generate hidden costs by decrease in production and reproduction performance of affected animals. The costs of individual claw disorders vary between $51.5 and $1,517, which leads to average costs per cow from $31.5 to $83. To reduce the impact of claw disorders on dairy farms a universal strategy applying the best combination of available prevention measures is required. The most efficient seems to be a strategy using early detection (regular claw checks with mirrors, pressure plates or infrared thermometers) and diagnosis (by professional trimmers, veterinaries or trained farmers), regular claw trimming (not more than twice a year), sand bedding with clean and dry floors, and proper diet to avoid any ruminal acidosis or BCS drop.