Journal of Animal Health and Production

Research Article
J. Anim. Health Prod. 2 (3): 40 - 45
http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.jahp/2014/2.3.40.45
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Mohamed Gomaa*, Ahmed Ismail El–Azzazy*, Fathy El–Seddawy, Mahmoud Abdel‒Maboud, Ahmed Behery, Abdel–Basit Abd El–Aal
Department of Surgery, Anestesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, El–Sharkia, Egypt
*Corresponding author: a4ismail@yahoo.co.uk or gomaasurgeon@yahoo.com. (First and second author Contributed equally to this work)

ABSTRACT
It is well known that treatment of foot lameness poses an enormous economic burden for milk producing farms. For this reason we herein developed a modification to Dutch method of claw trimming/unloading in order to treat these annoying disorders, simply and properly. Accordingly, milk yield of enrolled lame cows was evaluated following treatment. In total, 1.338 dairy cows from three Holstein–Friesian dairy farms located in El–Sharkia Governorate, Egypt were enrolled in this prospective study from January 2012 to August 2013 timeframe. Herein, prevalence of claw disorders were 4.2% for coriosis, 8.3% for white line disease 10% for underrun soles 41.7% for claw deformities, 29.2% for wall fissures, and 12.5% for sole ulcer (SU). Additionally, digital dermatitis (25%), inter–digital dermatitis (11.7%), inter–digital hyperplasia (1.7%), heel horn erosion (8.3%), inter–digital necrobacillosis (1.7%) and pedal arthritis (1.7%) were also filed out. Subsequently, milk yield data of lame cows were analyzed two weeks before treatment as well as two and four weeks after treatment. Impartially, milk yield of Farm–B and Farm–C showed significant increases at four weeks (154.35±30.44; P<0.001 and 130.59±22.17; P<0.01, respectively) and two weeks post treatment only in Farm–C (116.55±21.17; P<0.05) compared to pretreatment values (Farm–B: 96.25±22.94; Farm–C: 97.41±23.12). However, there were no statistical differences in milk production were noted in Farm–A. Based on these results, application of modified Dutch Method with claw measuring device named Claw–Check® for claw unloading/trimming might be beneficial clinically to reduce the burden of claw lameness and subsequently improves milk yield.

Key Words: Claw disorders, Milk yield, Modified Dutch method, Lameness, Claw trimming