Heel Horn Erosion
3.5 Heel horn erosions
Heel horn erosion is seen as a change in the form of the exterior of the bulb of the heel (Greenough 2016). Heel horn erosion is not always the cause of lameness, with the true incidence being unknown (Greenough 2016). However, it is suggested that if dairy cows are exposed to copious slurry, the incidence of heel erosion quickly reaches 100%. In some dairy cows, heel horn erosion advances to a point at which complications develop and lameness may be apparent (Greenough 2016). Often, heel horn erosion is seen in dairy herds in which subclinical laminitis has been diagnosed and also found in herds that have been affected by digital dermatitis (Greenough 2016). This disease is more commonly seen in the winter when cow’s …show more content…
(2004), it was found that lesions from heel erosions developed gradually and did not differ among different flooring types. The herds in this study were housed on a slatted floor, solid concrete floor, grooved floor and a straw yard. In a study carried out in the Netherlands, risk factors for heel horn erosion regarding the pasture and housing seasons were examined among dairy cows (Somers et al., 2005). In total, 23% of cows showed serious lesions of heel erosion towards the end of the grazing season. This number increased to 46% when the cows were housed. Cows walking on solid concrete floors were at a greater risk of contracting heel horn erosion tan cows housed on a slatted floor with manure scrappers. Another study indicated that severe lesions from heel horn erosion were associated with the majority of lame cows among 12 commercial dairy herds (Frankena et al., 2008). Fjeldass, Sogstad and Osteras (2011) found that there were fewer heel horn erosions among dairy cattle on slatted concrete floors in comparison to cows housed on rubber flooring. In a study carried out on 35 farms, meanwhile, it was discovered that dairy cows housed in cubicles sheds with slatted concrete floors were at a lower risk of obtaining heel horn erosions (Haufe et al., 2012). Among Norwegian dairy herds a study found that 34.8% of dairy cows experienced problems with lameness had heel horn erosions (Knappe- Poindecker et al.,
Heel horn erosion is seen as a change in the form of the exterior of the bulb of the heel (Greenough 2016). Heel horn erosion is not always the cause of lameness, with the true incidence being unknown (Greenough 2016). However, it is suggested that if dairy cows are exposed to copious slurry, the incidence of heel erosion quickly reaches 100%. In some dairy cows, heel horn erosion advances to a point at which complications develop and lameness may be apparent (Greenough 2016). Often, heel horn erosion is seen in dairy herds in which subclinical laminitis has been diagnosed and also found in herds that have been affected by digital dermatitis (Greenough 2016). This disease is more commonly seen in the winter when cow’s …show more content…
(2004), it was found that lesions from heel erosions developed gradually and did not differ among different flooring types. The herds in this study were housed on a slatted floor, solid concrete floor, grooved floor and a straw yard. In a study carried out in the Netherlands, risk factors for heel horn erosion regarding the pasture and housing seasons were examined among dairy cows (Somers et al., 2005). In total, 23% of cows showed serious lesions of heel erosion towards the end of the grazing season. This number increased to 46% when the cows were housed. Cows walking on solid concrete floors were at a greater risk of contracting heel horn erosion tan cows housed on a slatted floor with manure scrappers. Another study indicated that severe lesions from heel horn erosion were associated with the majority of lame cows among 12 commercial dairy herds (Frankena et al., 2008). Fjeldass, Sogstad and Osteras (2011) found that there were fewer heel horn erosions among dairy cattle on slatted concrete floors in comparison to cows housed on rubber flooring. In a study carried out on 35 farms, meanwhile, it was discovered that dairy cows housed in cubicles sheds with slatted concrete floors were at a lower risk of obtaining heel horn erosions (Haufe et al., 2012). Among Norwegian dairy herds a study found that 34.8% of dairy cows experienced problems with lameness had heel horn erosions (Knappe- Poindecker et al.,