Lameness Due to Claw Disorders in Holstein Dairy Cattle Is Associated with Elevated Serum Haptoglobin

Materials and methods: Sixty Holstein dairy cows (parity 1-8) in overall general good health were identified as having claw-related LAMENESS that was divided into four categories; pododermatitis septica (PS; n = 41), pododermatitis circumscripta (PC; n = 8), interdigital necrobacillosis (IN; n = 7), papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD; n = 4). Another 10 cows also in good general heath were randomly chosen as controls. Lame animals were treated immediately after diagnosis using standard of care treatment protocols; no anti-inflammatory drugs were given. None of the control cows received any treatments. Blood samples were collected by coccygeal venipuncture at initial diagnosis but before treatment (day 1), and on days 3 and 5 thereafter. HB concentration was measured in serum by means of radial immunodiffusion assay. Data were analyzed using Friedman, Wilcoxon signed ranks, and Pearson's chi-square tests.