Inês de Grenho Gonçalves Ajuda

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George Stilwell

University of Lisbon

Monica Battini

University of Milan

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University of Lisbon

Centre for Research in Anthropology

Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária

University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

Association for the Development of Douro Viticulture

Département Santé Animale

Massey University

Ordem dos Médicos

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa

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The role of claw deformation and claw size on goat lameness

Veterinary and Animal Science (2019)

Inês de Grenho Gonçalves Ajuda Monica Battini George Stilwell

Lameness due to claw overgrowth remains one of the main welfare challenges in dairy goat farms. Although claw trimming is a crucial part of the solution, most times there is a delay in its implementation, with no perceived consequences. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to assess the correlation between the size and deformation of dairy goats claws with lameness score. The width and length of the claws of 38 adult dairy goats were taken and classified as deformed (DEF) or non-deformed (NO_DEF). Lameness was also scored in the majority of the animals assessed for claw deformation. Deformation of at least one claw was present in 34 animals (89% of the total sample). From the 34 goats with deformed claws, 33 presented at least one deformed rear claw and 18 presented at least one deformed front claw. From the 152 claws assessed 58% were deformed (n = 88), of which 19% (n = 29) were front claws and 39% were rear claws (n = 59). Increased width of the front claws was associated with increased likelihood of having deformation with odds of 1.24, and the increased length explained 16% of the variation in lameness scores. A positive relation between lameness score and the number of deformed claws was also shown. Overall, these results suggest that the size of dairy goats' claws influences the prevalence of deformation and lameness severity and that the number of deformed claws affects goats' gait. They also help to build the argument in favor of regular trimming in dairy goat farms.

Claw

10.1016/j.vas.2019.100080

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Citations (29)