Distal bone lesions diagnosed by radiographic examination in dairy cows without claudication

ABSTRACT

Background: During decades, dairy cows have been selected for its productive character, with the main focus on the breeding production, being submitted to constant conditions of metabolic disorders, likewise submitted to permanent or intermittent episodes of systemic and / or mechanical aggression, anatomofunctional of its orthopedic system, appearing locomotion injuries. The present approach brings up the variable aspect of lesions in the extensor process of the third phalanx bone, diagnosed by digital radiography, in 17 Holstein cows, with or without joint involvement, the study was conducted in a commercial farm located in the South of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.Case This case report describes the identification and the appearance of lesions on the extensor process of the third phalanx bone in dairy cattle from a commercial herd. 17 Holstein cows with three lactations, with average production in two milking of 30.67 ± 5.39 L of milk submitted to semi-extensive system, with daily walk of 2.2 km between pasture, food and milking parlor. Weekly, the cows were submitted to clinical diagnosis and radiological exploration, on two periods (pre- and postpartum), from 14 days prepartum to 50 days postpartum. All animals despite the zero score of locomotion, demonstrated no abnormalities of posture or walking, however expressed at least one radiographic change in at least one member. Thereafter, radiographic lesions were evaluated for their variety and severity, indeed animals that had only injury extensor process, with fracture and / or joint involvement were detected. In the animals evaluated in this study there was antecedent clinical record of macroscopic lesions to the digit, without lameness.[...]