Orthopedic diseases in dairy cattle: causes, effects, and preventions

Locomotor diseases in cattle can have various causes, both infectious and non-infectious. Infectious agents, such as bacteria, mainly cause finger dermatitis and interdigital dermatitis. In turn, the non-infectious factors include deformation of the claws and the animal housing system, including the bedding material in the barn. Orthopedic disorders and diseases generate financial losses due to lower milk yield, extension of the calving period, or the need to implement treatment. Moreover, animals suffering from any hoof dysfunction suffer from reduced welfare, which results from the sensation of pain, discomfort, and stress associated with a hoof injury or deformation of the claw, or an infection developing on the bovine hoof. It is necessary to take measures to prevent the appearance of diseases and dysfunctions within the cow’s hooves, and early detection of disorders is associated with faster implementation of treatment.