Surgical treatment in deep digital sepsis in cattle – Claw preserving methods and claw amputation

Abstract

Still today lameness represents a major health problem in many dairy farms with prevalences ranging from 0 to 70%; mean prevalence rates of about 36% were reported by many authors. Unfortunately, the lameness prevalence is highly underestimated by farmers. An acceptable lameness prevalence in dairy herds regarding ethical and economical considerations is 5% to maximal 10%. Lameness continues to be one of the largest economic drains on dairy farming and is one of the three most common reason for culling, preceded by reproductive failure and mastitis. Lameness results in direct loss via culling as well as indirect loss via decreased production of milk, milk fat and protein, reproductive failure, prolonged calving interval, extra labor of the dairy farmer and the foot trimmer, extra visits of the veterinarian, treatment costs and costs for discarded milk.