Laminitis in Dairy Cattle - with Special Reference to Nutrition and Managemental Factors - a Review

This review paper preSents information on the nutritional and management factors that can predispose dairy animals to laminitis. The suggestions regarding various feeding and management practices that may help in preventing laminitis are also discussed. Lameness in dairy animal is a ~rious problem as it cauSes significant economic loss todairy farmers. The outbreak of laminitis can occur at any time of the year,. but it is strongly related to the time of calving. Acute lameness can turn a healthy animals in to' a physical wreck over a matter of ~ays. The laminitic animals may refuse to mov~qr have difficulty in moving. Many workers ha~~ indicated that laminitis in cattle is brought about by several factors including bacterial infection (Maclean, 1971 a; Leaver, 1983; Castle and Watkins, 1984 and MDC, 1997) rough concrete (Leaver, 1983; Castle and Watkins, 1984; Bazeeyand Pinsent, 1984; Colam-Ainsworth et aJ, 1989; Bergsten, 1994 and Bargai, 1998) inherted weakness (Vermunt and Greenough, 1994; MDC, 1997; Nocek, 1997) and changes in feeding practices (Leaver, 1983; Vermunt and Greenough, 1984 and Nocek, 1997). Other factors like metabolic and digestive disorders, infectious diseases such as mastitis/metritis, acetonemia and foot rot can predispose the cows to lameness (Maclean, 1965 and 1971 b). Environmental factors such as lack or little use of bedding (ColamAnisworth et aJ., 1989 and Bergsten, 1994), lack of exercise or hard surfaces can also cause mechanical damage to the feet of dairy animals