Prevalence of laminitis and the patterns of claw lesions in dairy cows in Nairobi and the peri-urban districts
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Date
2009Author
J, Nguhiu-Mwangi
P.M.F, Mbithi
J.K, Wabacha
P.G, Mbuthia
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Prospective study was carried out to determine the characteristics of claw lesions in
dairy cattle in Nairobi and the peri-urban districts between December 2005 and May
2006. The gaits of 300 dairy cows in 29 zero-grazed and 3 pasture-grazed farms were
evaluated and their claws examined for laminitis and other lesions. A retrospective
study was also conducted on case records for dairy cattle foot lameness in the Large
Animal Clinic of the University of Nairobi. Claws were also collected from abattoirs and
examined for lesions. Data was analyzed with GENSTAT for Windows Discovery
Edition 2. From the retrospective study, the prevalence of laminitic lesions was 0.79%
while infective lesions particularly interdigital necrobacillosis and sole abscesses had
prevalence of 35.7% and 11.1% respectively. In the prospective study, the prevalence
of laminitis was 70.3%, sole bruising 45%, heel erosion 27.3%, white line separation
18% and double soles 17%. However, the total prevalence of infective claw lesions
was 4.7%. Abattoir claws had lesions with similar trends as prospective survey.
Current nutrition, housing and management practices that are adopted for increasing
productivity and improving hygiene, may account for changes seen in claw lesion
patterns of increased laminitis and decreased infective lesions in dairy cattle.
Citation
Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afr., (2009), 57, 199 - 208.Publisher
Department of Clinical Studies, University of Nairobi