Assessment Of Dairy Cattle Carbohydrate Feeding Limitations For A Lameness Preventive Diagnosis Expert System Input

Claw lameness in dairy cows can be triggered by biomechanical factors caused by imbalancesof the pressure distribution under the hooves when cows are confined in dairy operations with hard concreteflooring. Clinically, the earliest diagnosis of claw lameness is only possible by visually observing faultylocomotion. Unfortunately, the earliest pathological gait signs are characteristics of mild to severe degreesof lameness requiring veterinary intervention and causing economic losses. The results obtained, using aplantar pressure measurement system, yielded a preliminary database on claw pressure distribution, whichcorrelated to claw length and nutritional factors (carbohydrate and fiber available for digestion) formed apreliminary knowledge base used in a Fuzzy Inference System (IRISK) for providing a method to helpprevent claw lameness. In order to create the system’s UI (IRISK’s user interface), nutritional carbohydrateand fiber concentrations, provided by farm mixed and commercial premixed rations, had to be translatedmathematically in terms of total rumen available NDF and NFC (Neutral Detergent Fiber and Non FibrousCarbohydrate respectively) levels. A program was coded in Visual Basic, containing calculations of totalDMI (dry matter intake) and accounted for live weight of the cows, lactation phase, production andenvironmental temperature. The total DMI was then used together with nutrition facts from raw ingredientsfrom farm mixed rations to calculate the total rumen available levels of NDF and NFC. The First module(IRISK) uses the NDF and NFC obtained and together with claw dimensions estimates the total risk level ofdeveloping claw lesions.