Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T15:21:12.449Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of protein source on lameness and solear lesion formation in dairy cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. E. Offer ,
D. N. Logue  and
D. J. Roberts
J. E. Offer
Affiliation:
Dairy Health Unit, Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Service, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
D. N. Logue
Affiliation:
Dairy Health Unit, Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Service, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
D. J. Roberts
Affiliation:
Grassland and Ruminant Science Department, Scottish Agricultural College, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries DG1 4SZ
Get access

Abstract

Two groups of 16 cubicle-housed Holstein-Friesian cattle from weeks 3 to 27 of lactation were offered either a proprietary protein supplement of animal origin (P) or soya-bean meal (S) as the protein source in the concentrate in a continuous design experiment. Concentrates were offered mixed with grass silage as complete diets to give a forage: concentrate ratio of 41: 59 and a crude protein content of 213 and 210 g/kg dry matter (DM) and a metabolizable energy content (MJ/kg DM) of 11·9 and 12·0 for P and S respectively. There was no significant difference due to diet for mean locomotion score (1·75 v. 1·66 (s.e. 0·15)), prevalence (0·1 v. 0·09 per cow per week) or incidence of lameness (0·04 v. 0·04) for P and S respectively. Similarly there was no effect on hoof growth, wear, hardness or conformation. Sole haemorrhages, indicative of subclinical laminitis, were observed throughout the experiment but were most severe at approximately 16 weeks after calving. Levels of heel erosion remained constant throughout. There was no significant effect of treatment on either heel or sole lesion formation. No significant differences were observed between treatments for milk yield, live weight, condition score or blood metabolites. The conclusions from this study were that source of dietary protein has no effect on dairy cow lameness or the development of sole lesions indicative of subclinical laminitis.

Keywords

dairy cattledietary proteinfoot diseaseslamenessmilk yield
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , October 1997 , pp. 143 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bargai, U., Shamir, I., Lublin, A. and Bogin, E. 1992. Winter outbreaks of laminitis in dairy calves: aetiology and laboratory, radiological and pathological findings. Veterinary Record 131:411–414.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bazeley, K. and Pinsent, P. J. N. 1984. Preliminary observations on a series of outbreaks of acute laminitis in dairy cattle. Veterinary Record 115: 619–622.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blowey, R. 1993. Cattle lameness and hoofcare, an illustrated guide. Farming Press Books and Videos, Warfedale Rd, Ipswich, UK.Google Scholar
Boosman, R. 1990. Bovine laminitis: histopathologica and arteriographic aspects, and its relation to endotoxaemia. Ph.D. thesis, University of Utrecht.Google Scholar
Chew, K. H. 1972. Subacute/chronic laminitis and sole ulceration in a dairy herd. Canadian Veterinary Journal 13: 90–93.Google Scholar
Clark, A. K. and Rakes, A. H. 1982. Effect of methionine hydroxy analog supplementation on dairy cattle hoof growth and composition. Journal of Dairy Science 65: 1493–1502.Google Scholar
Clarkson, M. J., Downham, D. Y., Faull, W. B., Hughes, J. W., Manson, F. J., Merritt, J. B., Murray, R. D., Russell, W. B., Sutherst, J. E. and Ward, W. R. 1996. Incidence and prevalence of lameness in dairy cattle. Veterinary Record 138: 563–567.Google Scholar
Greenough, P. R. and Vermunt, J. J. 1991. Evaluation of subclinical laminitis in a dairy herd and observations on associated nutritional and management factors. Veterinary Record 128:11–17.Google Scholar
Kelly, E. F. and Leaver, J. D. 1990. Lameness in dairy cattle and the type of concentrate given. Animal Production 51: 221–227.Google Scholar
Kempson, S. A. and Logue, D. N. 1993. Ultrastructural observations of hoof horn from dairy cows: changes in the white line during the first lactation. Veterinary Record 132: 524–527.Google Scholar
Larsson, B., Obel, N. and Aberg, B. 1956. On the biochemistry of keratinisation in the matrix of the horse's hoof in normal conditions and in laminitis. Nordisk Veterinarmedizin 8: 761–776.Google Scholar
Logue, D. N., Offer, J. E. and Hyslop, J. J. 1994. Relationship of diet, hoof type and locomotion score with lesions of the sole and white line in dairy cattle. Animal Production 59:173–181.Google Scholar
Manson, F. J. and Leaver, J. D. 1988a. The influence of concentrate amount on locomotion and clinical lameness in dairy cattle. Animal Production 47:185–190.Google Scholar
Manson, F. J. and Leaver, J. D. 1988b. The influence of dietary protein intake and of hoof trimming on lameness in dairy cattle. Animal Production 47:191–199.Google Scholar
Manson, F. J. and Leaver, J. D. 1989. The effect of silage: concentrate ratio and of hoof trimming on lameness in dairy cattle. Animal Production 49:15–22.Google Scholar
Merritt, J. B., Manson, F. J., Russell, W. B. and Downham, D. Y. 1992. The effect of lameness on milk production in Friesian-Holstein cows. Animal Production 54: 479–480 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Nilsson, S. A. 1963. Clinical, morphological and experimental studies of laminitis in cattle. Ada Veterinaria Scandinavica 4:12–43.Google Scholar
Thomas, P. C., Chamberlain, D. G., Kelly, N. C. and Wait, M. K. 1980. The nutritive value of silages. Digestion of nitrogenous constituents in sheep receiving diets of grass silage and grass silage and barley. British Journal of Nutrition 43: 469–474.Google Scholar
Urmas, P. 1968. A new hypothesis about laminitis. Finsk Veterinaer Tidskrift 74:11–20.Google Scholar
Vermunt, J. J. 1992. ‘Subclinical’ laminitis in dairy cattle. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 40:133–138.Google Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1969. Factors affecting the shape of the lactation curve in cattle. Animal Production 11:307–316.Google Scholar