LAMENESS, LESIONS OF THE CLAW OF THE DAIRY COW AND SUBCLINICAL LAMINITIS

摘要

The article by Vermunt and Greenough (1995) in this issue of the journal continues to expand the hypothesis that subclinical laminitis is the precursor of many of the hoof lesions which are the seat of lameness in the dairy cow. This small study follows logically from some of the findings recently reviewed in the British Veterinary Journal (Vermunt & Greenough, 1994) in which they pointed out that studies are increasingly concentrating upon the relationship between the management of the young cow (especially the first calving heifer) and the development of lesions of the foot. In the present paper they investigate whether even earlier management of the young dairy cow could be of importance as is suggested by the finding of a high prevalence of lesions associated with laminitis in intensively fed feedlot cattle.