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Diversity in the magnitude of hind limb unloading occurs with similar forms of lameness in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2011

Jianbo Liu ,
Robert M Dyer ,
Nagaraj K Neerchal ,
Uri Tasch  and
Parimal G Rajkondawar
Jianbo Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
Robert M Dyer*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19717
Nagaraj K Neerchal
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
Uri Tasch
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
Parimal G Rajkondawar
Affiliation:
Bou-Matic, LLC 1919 S. Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI 53708
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship of veterinary clinical assessments of lameness to probability estimates of lameness predicted from vertical kinetic measures. We hypothesized that algorithm-derived probability estimates of lameness would accurately reflect vertical measures in lame limbs even though vertical changes may not inevitably occur in all lameness. Kinetic data were collected from sound (n=179) and unilaterally lame (n=167) dairy cattle with a 1-dimensional, parallel force plate system that registered vertical ground reaction force signatures of all four limbs as cows freely exited the milking parlour. Locomotion was scored for each hind limb using a 1–5 locomotion score system (1=sound, 5=severely lame). Pain response in the interdigital space was quantified with an algometer and pain response in the claw was quantified with a hoof tester fitted with a pressure gage. Lesions were assigned severity scores (1=minimal pathology to 5=severe pathology). Lameness diminished the magnitude of peak ground reaction forces, average ground reaction forces, Fourier transformed ground reaction forces, stance times and vertical impulses in the lame limbs of unilaterally lame cows. The only effect of lameness on the opposite sound limb was increased magnitude of stance times and vertical impulses in unilaterally lame cows. Symmetry measures of the peak ground reaction forces, average ground reaction forces, Fourier transformed ground reaction forces, stance times and vertical impulses between the left and right hind limbs were also affected in unilateral lameness. Paradoxically, limbs with clinically similar lesion and locomotion scores and pain responses were associated with a broad range of load-transfer off the limb. Substantial unloading and changes in the vertical limb variables occurred in some lameness while minimal unloading and changes in vertical limb variables occurred in other lameness. Corresponding probability estimates of lameness accurately reflected changes in the vertical parameters of limbs and generated low probability estimates of lameness when minimal unloading occurred. Failure to transfer load off limbs with pain reactions, locomotion abnormalities and lesions explained much of the limited sensitivity in lameness detection with vertical limb variables.

Keywords

Dairy cowforce platelamenessvertical kinetic variables
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , May 2011 , pp. 168 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2011

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