An incidence of acute diffuse aseptic inflammation of the corium of the hoof in dairy cows

Herd health and production related problems were monitored on a high yield farm with 385 Holstein-Friesian cows near Ljubljana, Slovenia in 1993. At the end of August an outbreak of acute aseptic inflammation of the corium of the hoof (N=33) and retention of urine in vagina (N=37) was detected and treated in cows at pasture. The incidence of the disease in the summer months (pasture) was statistically significantly (P<0.01) higher than in the winter months. The analysis of intake revealed that it was markedly high in proteins and low in fibre in the summer months. A statistically significant (P<0.001) difference was revealed between fat, protein and urea bulk milk contents. Therefore, we may associate the occurrence of acute aseptic inflammation of the corium (sole haemorrhages) and retention of urine in vagina with protein overload (lush grass) and/or an increased urea content and some other toxic substances in the organism of dairy cows.