Laminitis and dermatitis in heifers associated with excessive carbohydrate intake: skin lesions and biochemical findings.

The effects of a sudden addition of a large quantity of readily fermentable carbohydrate to the feed ration of pregnant heifers are described. Clinical and pathological changes caused by the resulting disease were confined to the digits and skin. The 4 acutely affected heifers were reluctant to get up or move (group II). They tended to lie down or stand with feet bunched together and the back arched, often shifting weight from limb to limb. They walked stiffly with great tenderness and pain in the digits. Extreme pain was noticed when the digits were examined. In 4 of 8 heifers, separation of the sole at the heel, with leakage of exudate, and under-running of the sole were observed. Necrotic dermatitis of the legs, alopecia and hyperkeratosis of the tail were noticed in all 8 heifers. Skin lesions appeared simultaneously. Four of the heifers (group I) recovered, and the other 4 (group II) were sent to slaughter. No post mortem examination was performed. The biochemical findings revealed a significantly higher concentration of total serum globulins and sodium, and increased activity, in CK, LDH and AST. A significantly decreasing pattern was noted in blood urea concentration, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin and calcium. No significant differences among the various groups were found in the activities of amylase, GGT, and concentration of creatinine, total bilirubin, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.

Tarsal lameness of dairy bulls housed at two artificial insemination centers: 24 cases (1975-1987).

Degenerative joint disease of the tarsi was diagnosed in 20 of 24 Holstein bulls with tarsal lameness at 2 artificial insemination centers from 1975 to 1987. Each of the 2 centers housed about 100 bulls/yr. Of the 24 bulls with tarsal lameness, 22 were from the artificial insemination center designated as A, and 2 were from the center designated as B. Examination of the housing and management procedures revealed that center A had concrete floors with cuboidal-shaped yards, whereas center B had deep sand flooring, with long, narrow yards. The only other difference between the 2 centers was that center A used 1- and 2-year-old bulls as teasers for older, heavier bulls to mount, whereas center B used bulls that were at least 6 years old to withstand the stress placed on their hind limbs by the weight of bulls undergoing semen collection. Radiographic lesions of tarsi of bulls from both centers ranged from distention of the tibiotarsal joint pouch to hypertrophic degenerative osteoarthritis of the distal, intertarsal, and tarsometatarsal joints. It was concluded that the concrete flooring and the semen collecting practices were responsible for the high prevalence of tarsal lameness and degenerative joint disease of the tarsi in bulls housed at center A.

Winter outbreaks of laminitis in dairy calves: aetiology and laboratory, radiological and pathological findings.

During the winter months of 1984 to 1989, outbreaks of laminitis occurred in up to 6 per cent of all the dairy calves aged four to six months on a dairy farm in a village in Israel. The clinical signs were reluctance to move, an arched back, overgrown hooves, supracoronary swelling and occasional walking on the carpus; most of the calves were unthrifty. Owing to the regular recurrence of the disease, the feeding and haematological, radiological and pathological changes in both the affected and normal calves at the farm, and in normal calves at another farm in the same village were studied. In the affected calves there were significant increases in serum protein concentration and in the activities of creatine phosphotinase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Radiography showed dilated PIII vascular channels and some PIII rotation. Post mortem studies revealed haemorrhages in the laminar section of the hoof. The management of the farms differed in the protein level of the milk replacer and the 'starter' diet used during the first few months. The affected farm used feeds containing 18 per cent digestible protein whereas the unaffected farm used feeds containing 15.3 per cent digestible protein.