Nutrition affects lameness and hoof health in a variety of ways. Learn about both direct and indirect impacts of nutrition, such as acidosis and metabolic diseases, as well as how interactions between nutrition and environment can play a part. You can find the full presentation on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlM6pfj_WZ8

1. NUTRITIONAL CAUSES OF
LAMENESS
Robert Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD
Extension Veterinarian
Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences
Penn State University

2. Is Diet the Problem?
• Factors contributing to pH load in rumen
o Dietary starch content
o Degradability of starch source
o Dietary fiber content
o Effectiveness of fiber to stimulate chewing
o Dietary buffers

3. “Rumen acidosis”
LAMENESS
Weakened claws
• Poor quality horn formation
• Breakdown of support system in the claw
Metabolic Disorders
• Milk Fever
• Ketosis
Genetics Changes in blood circulation in claw
Increased lactic acid production
Lowered pH
Infectious Diseases
• Metritis
• MastitisDeath of “gram negative” bacteria
Endotoxin release
Rumen Nutritional Factors:
• Lack of Effective Fiber
• Poor Feeding Management
• Incorrect Forage:Concentrate Ratio
• Poor rumen buffering
Laminitis
Environment/Management:
• Trauma & Handling
• Trimming
• Heat Stress
• Cleanliness
• Cow Comfort
Adapted from Hoof Care for Dairy Cattle, 1992. J.E. Nocek
Transition
Nutrition
Transition Diet:
Protein, Trace
minerals, vitamins

4. Rumen
Fermentable
Carbohydrates
Environment
Ruminal pH
The Balancing Act
Buffer Production Acid production

5. SARA – Rumen pH
High Forage
Diet
High Grain
Diet

6. • Feed sorting
• Not pushing up feed
• Too small particle size
• Over mixing
• Inadequate bunk space
• Empty bunks

8. If a great deal of fermentable
material, usually mostly
carbohydrate, reaches the
hindgut, then diarrhea may
occur due to an extensive
hindgut fermentation and
we may see mucins in the
manure
Courtesy of MB Hall

9. Clarke et al., 1990
Damaged
Barrier
Colonic
Lumen
Colonic
Mucosa
H+
Histamine
Endotoxin
and Acid
Absorption
H2O,
Protein
Capillary
Mast Cell
Bacterial
Death
Fermentable
Carbohydrate
Load
Hindgut Acidosis?

10. BCS and Lameness
• Thin cows at calving had 7-fold increased risk
for lameness (Gearhart et al., JDS 1990)
• Increased BCS loss increases lameness risk
(Hassall et al., Vet Rec 1993)
• Cows with low BCS at calving are at 9.4 times
greater risk for lameness (Hoedemaker et al.,
Repro Dom Anim 2008)
• Odds of lameness 1.6 times greater in cows
with low BCS (≤2.5) than in cows with a higher
BCS (Solano et al., JDS 2015)

11. Digital Cushion Thickness (DCT)
• Prevalence of sole ulcers
and white line disease
associated with DCT
• Upper quartile cows had
adjusted 15% lower
prevalence
• BCS is associated with
DCT
• DCT nadir occurred at
120 DIM
Bicalho RC. J Dairy Sci 2009;92:3175-3184

12. Bicalho RC. J Dairy Sci 2009;92:3175-3184

13. BCS and Lameness
Solano et al., JDS 2015

14. Lameness Risk
DCT
Quartile
Adjusted
Prevalence of
Horn Lesions,
%
Adjusted
Odds Ratio
95%
Confidence
Interval
Lowest 24.4 3.4 1.6 – 7.2
Next
Lowest
28.1 4.1 2.1 – 8.2
Next
Highest
14.5 1.9 1.0 – 3.6
Highest 8.6 ----- -----
Bicalho RC. J Dairy Sci 2009;92:3175-3184

15. Solano et al., JDS 2015
Leg injuries

16. Key Points
• The role of nutrition in lameness is multi-
dimensional
o Direct impacts (Acidosis, Minerals)
o Indirect effects via BCS loss, metabolic
diseases
• Many interactions exist between nutritional
programs and facilities or environment
• The role of acidosis and laminitis may not
be the sole mechanism linking nutrition to
lameness

17. Thank You