L L ame ne ss Comple x ame ne ss Comple x WestGen Annual Meeting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

T he Impor tanc e of F

• ot Confor

mation, F

• ot T

r imming, and Cow Comfor t in the

L ame ne ss Comple x

T he Impor tanc e of F

• ot Confor

mation, F

• ot T

r imming, and Cow Comfor t in the

L ame ne ss Comple x

WestGen Annual Meeting

• Dr. Gordon Atkins – Mar 28, 2017

Data Source – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Is lameness an inevitable consequence

• f higher milk production & intensively

managed, confinement housing systems

• r do we have to learn more about the

anatomy and function of the bovine foot?

How Should Industry Respond to the Lameness Issue?

(Raven 1989) (Raven 1989) (Raven 1989)

Van der Tol 2003. J. Dairy Sci

Distribution of Claw Pressure While Walking on a Flat, Hard Surface

Vicious circle of horn production Increased horn production

I ncreased proliferation

I ncreased pressure I ncreased lateral claw horn thickness

lateral claw

Lameness

Legs Front Feet

Hind Feet (86%)

Inner Claw

Outer Claw (85%)

(Blowey 1998)

Feet

(88%)

Front Feet = 1.6 : 1 Hind Feet = 2.2 : 1

Heel Depth is 1 cm Higher in Front Feet Than Hind Feet TOE ANGLE Front Feet = 52 O Hind Feet = 49 O

What do we know about the conformation of the bovine foot? What do we know about the conformation of the bovine foot?

Range 80 – 90 mm

Heel Axial Groove Sole Abaxial Wall Axial Wall White Line

Courtesy Dr. Gordon Atkins

Section Pre’90 1993 1998 2012  Mammary System 40% 40% 40% 42%  Feet & Legs 12% 16% 20% 28%  Dairy Character 16% 14% 12%

Dairy Strength

20%  Frame/Capacity 22% 20% 18%  Rump 10% 10% 10% 10%

How Have We Evaluated Feet and Leg Conformation?

Holstein Canada 2015

Rear Legs – Rear View 31% Heel Depth 22% Foot Angle 9% Rear Legs – Side View 17% Bone Quality 12% Thurl Placement 9%

1 4 7 9

Foot Angle and Heel Depth

13 % Heritable 10 % Heritable

Intermediate Steep (ideal)

Courtesy Holstein Canada

9%

What do we know about the phenotypic expression for feet and leg conformation traits ?

A new approach to evaluate feet and leg conformation? A new approach to evaluate feet and leg conformation?

Foot Angle Foot Angle

Hair Line Angle Hair Line Angle

The distribution of foot angle measurements before and after trimming. The mean foot angle after trimming was 49° (35° – 68°).

Foot Angle Foot Angle

Frequency Atkins et al 2016

Heel Depth Heel Depth

Frequency

The distribution of heel depth measure before and after trimming. The mean heel depth after trimming was 47 mm (33 mm – 61 mm). Atkins et al 2016

Heel Depth Heel Depth

Frequency of Measured Foot Angle in Degrees

Relationship between measured foot angle and heel depth with the linear score from Holstein classification Relationship between measured foot angle and heel depth with the linear score from Holstein classification

Atkins et al 2016

Frequency of Measured Heel Depth in mm

Digital Cushion Digital Cushion

Digital Cushion Digital Cushion

Digital Cushion at the Flexor Tuberosity Digital Cushion at the Flexor Tuberosity

Digital Cushion at the Flexor Tuberosity Digital Cushion at the Flexor Tuberosity

Digital Cushion Digital Cushion

Digital Cushion at the Navicular Digital Cushion at the Navicular

Navicular Bone DDF Digital Cushion

Navicular bone

P3 P2

Is there a Relationship between and Digital Cushion Depth & Heel Depth? Is there a Relationship between and Digital Cushion Depth & Heel Depth?

DCD at Flexor Tuberosity and Navicular in mm

Relationship between BCS and Digital Cushion Depth (DCD) at both the Flexor Tuberosity and the Navicular Relationship between BCS and Digital Cushion Depth (DCD) at both the Flexor Tuberosity and the Navicular

Toe Length Toe Length

Archer et al 2015

Archer et al 2015

• The minimum external wall length was calculated using CT measured internal wall.
• External wall length must be at least 14 mm greater than the internal wall length

when trimming the toe to a point, having a toe angle of 50°, & a 5 mm sole thickness.

• The external dorsal wall length must be greater for a rounded toe than a square toe.
• Where fixed toe lengths are used to simplify protocols and facilitate the training of

less experienced operators, the minimum recommended length for trimming the dorsal wall should be conservative.

Archer et al 2015

The distribution of toe length measure before and after trimming. The mean toe length after trimming was 81.5 mm (69 mm – 119 mm).

Toe Length Toe Length

Frequency

Atkins et al 2016

What is the Impact of Hoof Trimming? What is the Impact of Hoof Trimming?

Two primary functions

• f foot trimming are:

1.Balance the weight distribution between the claws 2.Restore the foot angle to 49 – 52 degrees

5 Step Dutch Trimming Method

Trimming Steps

• 1. Medial Claw (non weight bearing)
• Cutting Toe Length (75 mm)
• Leaving Toe with a Square End
• Leveling the toe

Based on technique introduced by Dr. E. Toussaint Raven and taught by Mr. Pieter Kloosterman

5 Step Dutch Trimming Method

Trimming Steps

1. Medial Claw (non weight bearing)

• Cutting Toe Length with Square End

2. Lateral Claw (weight bearing)

• Match Medial Claw Length
• Balance Heel
• Level toe

Trimming Steps

1. Medial Claw (non weight bearing)

• Cutting Toe Length with square End

2. Lateral Claw (weight bearing)

• Balance Heel & Match Medial Length

3. Modeling

• Lateral Sole

5 Step Dutch Trimming Method

Trimming Steps

1. Medial Claw (non weight bearing)

• Cutting Toe Length

2. Lateral Claw (weight bearing)

• Balance Heel

3. Modeling

• Lateral Sole

4. Treat Lesions 5. Remove Loose Horn

5 Step Dutch Trimming Method

“Principles of Claw Trimming in Cattle” with special consideration of the anatomy and biomechanics of the foot

Master Thesis - Denise Schilliger Supervision - Professor Dr. Karl Nuss

University of Zurich

Swiss Trimming Method - 1

Swiss Trimming Method - 2

Swiss Trimming Method - 3

Swiss Trimming Method - 4

Comparison of Trimming a Square Toe

(Similar to the Dutch Trimming Method) versus a

Rounded Toe (Similar to the Swiss Trimming Method)

Conclusions that can be made:

• 1. Foot Trimming can dramatically change the

toe length, foot angle, and heel depth.

• 2. There appears to be a poor relationship

between measured foot angle and classification linear scores for the angle of the hairline.

• 3. A foot angle of 50° can be achieved with a

dorsal wall length of 80 - 85 mm.

• 4. Sole thickness is related to the dorsal wall

length and the type of toe trimming.

Questions that need to be answered:

• 1. Are there unidentified conformational characteristics
• f the foot that help to limit the undesirable changes

in foot angle, heel depth & dorsal wall length seen in intensively managed, confinement housing systems?

• 2. Is the classification linear score assessment for the

angle at the hairline actually measuring foot angle or is it measuring a separate and independent trait?

• 3. How reliable is the relationship between heel depth,

digital cushion depth, and BCS and how important is heel depth in the lameness complex?

Next Steps:

• 1. Set up a workshop with classifiers to compare their

estimated linear scores for foot angle and heel depth with actual measured values.

• 2. Measure both the angle at the hairline and the toe

angle to determine the relationship between these two measured values.

• 3. Develop a technique to measure the contact surface

area of the lateral claw of hind feet.

• 4. Re-evaluate the the emphasis give to foot angle and

heel depth in the classification system.

• Dr. Laura Solano – data interpretation and statistical calculations
• Dr. Steve Mason – data interpretation
• Mr. Elbert Koster – foot trimmer
• Mr. Rob Guyer – foot trimmer
• Ms. Casey Jacobs – data recording and ultrasound measurements
• Dr. Jase Skelton – data recording and ultrasound measurements
• Dr. Kerry Atkins – data recording and ultrasound measurements
• Ms. Charlotte Pickel – data recording
• Ms. Danielle Lee – data recording
• Ms. Jasmine Voegeli – data recording

Acknowledgements

Impact of Cow Comfort on Lameness

Free Stall Design Factors Influencing Use

• 1. Surface Cushion
• 2. Traction
• 3. Room to Bob and Lunge
• 4. Adequate Defined Resting Area
• 5. Room to Rise Below & Behind Neck Rail
• 6. Curb Height and Design

Surface Cushion and Traction

Deep Bedding Deep Bedding Deep Bedding Deep Bedding

Little Bedding Little Bedding Little Bedding Little Bedding Little Bedding

Bob and Lunge Room

Adequate Resting Space

(72 in.) (70 in.) (50 in.) (36 in.)

(20 in.)

(9-12 in.) (36 in.)

Free Stall Dimensions

Recommended Stall Width = 48 – 50 in.

Neil Anderson – Veterinary Science/OMAF