Serum acute phase proteins as a marker of inflammation in dairy cattle with hoof diseases

摘要

HOOF health is an important animal welfare and economic issue for dairy producers. Many studies have shown how lameness, usually due to hoof lesions (Murray and others 1996), can affect ovarian activity, udder health, milk yield and the risk of culling (Green and others 2002, Hultgren and others 2004, Bach and others 2007). Compared with other hoof lesions, sole ulcers have the strongest association with clinical lameness (Manske and others 2002, Hultgren and others 2004), take longer to heal (Lischer and others 2001) and have the greatest influence on milk yield (Amory and others 2008). White line problems have become more common, in parallel with the increased popularity of loose-housing systems, and the need for hoof trimming is growing. White line abscesses lead to lameness and are thus of considerable concern, especially in new loose-housed herds in Finland.