Floor Slat Direction is Related to Severity of Superficial Claw Lesions on Hind Limbs in Gestating Sows, but not Reproductive Performance and Behavior
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本研究の目的は間隙方向が雌豚に対して縦（PRL）または横（PPD）であるすのこ床で飼育されている妊娠豚の蹄損傷，行動，繁殖成績を比較することであった。2008年に繁殖一貫経営農場に3回訪問し，雌豚の後肢蹄と行動を観察した。全ての雌豚はPRLまたはPPDであるコンクリートすのこ床があるストールで飼育され，両床面は同じ豚舎に混在した。蹄損傷は5段階のスコアを用い，後肢8つの蹄，それぞれ6部位と蹄球肥大を記録した。4つの蹄損傷の測定値として，雌豚の合計スコア（TCLS），部位のTCLS，雌豚の最高スコア（HCLS），部位のHCLSを用いた。雌豚のTCLSは全部位のスコアの合計，部位のTCLSは部位毎のスコアの合計とした。雌豚のHCLSは全部位中最も高いスコア，部位のHCLSは各部位で最も高いスコアとした。比較のために統計分析として混合効果モデルを用いた。 雌豚162頭の平均TCLS (±SEM）は9.5±0.44，雌豚のHCLS 0, 1，2, 3，4の割合はそれぞれ1.2%, 39.4%, 54.5%, 4.3%, 0.6%であった。PPDの床面で飼育された雌豚は，PRLよりも蹄球のTCLSが高かった（P<0.05）。すのこ床の間隙方向は，他の部位および雌豚のTCLSとは関連がなかった。PPDの床面で飼育された雌豚は，PRLよりも蹄壁と蹄球におけるHCLS1の割合が高かった（P<0.05)。すのこ床の間隙方向とHCLS2と3の割合は他の部位において関連はなかった。すのこ床の間隙方向と行動，繁殖成績は関連がなかった。結論として，PPDの床面は妊娠豚の表皮における蹄損傷に関連したが，行動と繁殖成績に関連がなかった。Keywords:
Claw
Hindlimb
Claw
Trimming
Laminitis
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Claw abnormalities, particularly claw asymmetries, are associated with lameness in pigs and can be a welfare issue. However, the prevalence and development of claw asymmetries in pigs of different age is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the claw symmetry over the pig lifetime from birth to slaughter as well as the occurrence of sole ulcerations in fattening pigs possibly caused by such asymmetric claws.From third day of life until slaughtering, asymmetric growth of the claws was detected more frequently and more severely with increasing age as determined by three-step scoring. Sole ulcerations were detected in slaughtered pigs only with a prevalence of 64.2% (197/307 examined animals). The risk for a sole ulceration was 3.6-fold higher for pigs with strongly asymmetric claws (≥ 30% size difference of the claw footing area) compared to slightly asymmetric claws (≥ 5-15% size difference of the claw footing area) (odds ratio (OR) = 3.6). It was even higher for pigs showing intermediately asymmetric claws (≥ 15-30% size difference of the claw footing area) (OR = 2.7).The study showed a significant increase in the prevalence of claw asymmetries over the pigs' lifetime, which can lead to serious pathologic findings with increasing age such as sole ulcerations. Most likely, the unbalanced weight load on single claws in combination with hard flooring can result in claw damages. Moreover, a genetic component cannot be excluded because claw asymmetries were already detected in suckling piglets.
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SUMMARY In order to assess associations between claw pathologies, claw signature and cow gait, 24 dairy cows were examined during six weeks. The health of the claws was not extremely bad and only few cows had a gait score resulting in classification as lame. More detailed individual associations between claw pathologies, claw signature and cow gait will be presented at the conference. Results indicate that there is an association between gait scores and the duty cycles of different legs. Further research is needed to support these findings.
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Hoof
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Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between body condition and claw diseases in dairy cows. The data used in this study were obtained during two sessions of routine orthopaedic treatment and hoof trimming on a dairy farm in Eastern Slovakia. In the spring and autumn terms, 482 dairy cows were examined for claw diseases and their body conditions were recorded. Out of the 482 dairy cows, 56 % were affected by one or more claw diseases in one or more legs. Digital dermatitis and sole ulcers were the most often detected claw diseases found in this study. The dairy cows with a low body condition score (BCS < 3) showed a higher prevalence of claw diseases (P < 0.05) than the cows with a body condition score greater than 3. However, this difference could not be found when infectious diseases of the claws (digital dermatitis, foot rot, and interdigital dermatitis) were analysed. The results of this study allowed us to conclude that the dairy cows with a lower grade of body condition suffered more from non-infectious claw diseases (sole ulcer, white line diseases).
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Hoof
Laminitis
Foot rot
Foot (prosody)
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Mites occupy a wide range of ecological niches and are good models to investigate correlations of morphological structures and ecology in arthropods. Here we compare tarsal claw shape of three terrestrial oribatid mite species with different ecological backgrounds. By means of geometric morphometrics we describe shape, size and development of the tarsal claw of the monodactyl mite species Lamellovertex caelatus and Platynothrus peltifer, and the tridactyl Melanozetes meridianus. After analysis of juvenile and adult mites we can distinguish the euryoecious P. peltifer and the alpine M. meridianus with similar claw curvatures from the saxicolous L. caelatus with considerably less curved claws. The claw height of P. peltifer, on the other hand, is remarkably higher than in the other two species. Despite these differences, no correlation between claw characteristics and environmental factors can be inferred. During the development of the mites, claw curvature and shape remain constant from protonymph to adult and claw size increases direct proportionally with body growth in all studied species. Neither the monodactyl nor the tridactyl species show any specific changes in claw characteristics.
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Morphometrics
Tarsus (eyelids)
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The purpose of this study was to develop a model for a routine genetic evaluation of claw health traits and to develop an index including data on claw health and conformation traits. Claw health data comprised observations on 40,536 dairy cows of claw traits recorded by claw trimmers. Claw health traits scored were sole hemorrhage (SH), digital dermatitis (DD), interdigital dermatitis (ID), wall ulcer (WU), sole ulcer (SU), interdigital hyperplasia (IH), and white line disease (WL). A combined claw health trait was added as a trait to the data, combining all claw disorders. Observations on 5 feet and leg conformation traits on 41,048 animals were evaluated as predictive traits for claw health. These conformation traits were rear leg side view, rear leg rear view, foot angle, locomotion, and feet and legs. Prevalence of claw disorders ranged from 3% (WU) to 38% (SH). Overall, 69% of the animals had at least one claw disorder. Estimated heritabilities for claw health traits ranged from 0.01 (WU) to 0.13 (IH), and repeatabilities (within and across lactation) ranged from 0.15 (WU) to 0.57 (IH). Genetic correlations of claw health traits in parity 1 and parities ≥2 ranged from 0.72 to 1.00. Estimated genetic correlations among claw health traits ranged from -0.35 to 0.88 and between claw health and conformation traits ranged from -0.58 to 0.41. The breeding goal for claw health was to reduce costs due to claw disorders. The economic index for claw health, which included claw health and feet and leg conformation traits, had a reliability of 59% for an average progeny-tested bull in the Netherlands. The prevalence of claw disorders can be reduced up to 0.7% per year with selection on claw health only.
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Foot (prosody)
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The influence of regular claw-trimming on the occurrence and prevalence of claw disorders was examined on a total of 164 dairy cows (Simmental, Red Friesian, Holstein Friesian). Ten dairy farms in the Austrian province of Salzburg were used for this study. Three examinations of the claws were carried out with an interval of six months in between to find out claw disorders. The results were recorded according to a claw scoring system. The claw scores were in the range of other studies using the same scoring system. The median of the claw scores at the beginning of the study was 27 in the tied stall group compared with 37 in the loose housing group, remaining at that level in the first group and falling to 25 in the second group. All in all, the positive effect of regular claw trimming was more pronounced in the loose housing group than in the tethered housing group.
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Trimming
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Hoof
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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.
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