Authors : P. Kimeli, J. Nguhiu-Mwangi and M.E. Mogoa
Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and August, 2013, in smallholder dairy farms in Kikuyu District, Kiambu County, Kenya to determine the prevalence of claw lesions and their association with the prevailing locomotion scores. The 161 dairy cows were evaluated in 100 zero-grazing dairy units. The occurrence of claw lesions in the hind limbs and respective locomotion scores in the selected cows was determined. Various claw lesions were identified which include: claw overgrowth (66.5%), underrun sole (45.3%), whiteline separation (37.3%), horizontal grooves (31.1%), horizontal cracks (15.5%), vertical cracks (1.9%), corkscrew (11.2%), sole erosion (18.0%), heel erosion (41.6%), splayed claw (16.8%), sole ulcer (3.1%), chronic laminitis (6.2%), foot rot (5.0%), traumatic pododermatitis (2.5%) and scissors-shaped claw (1.2%). Presence of various claw lesions was significantly associated (p<0.05) with locomotion scores of the cows examined in this study. Some of the claw lesions had strong association with locomotion scores. These included: corkscrew claws (χ2 = 35.43, p<0.0001), underrun (double), soles (χ2 = 33.66, p<0.0001), white line separation (χ2 = 24.23, p<0.0001), prominent deep horizontal grooves on the dorsal wall (χ2 = 16.18, p = 0.0003), overgrown claws (χ2 = 10.90, p = 0.0043), traumatic pododermititis (χ2 = 9.38, p = 0.0092) and horizontal hoof wall cracks (χ2 = 9.29, p = 0.0009). Other claw lesions were weakly associated with locomotion scores. They included: heel erosion (χ2 = 8.01, p = 0.0183) and sole ulcers (χ2 = 5.99, p = 0.0490). It is concluded that various claw lesions had a strong association with locomotion scores and therefore influencing the gait of the cows.
P. Kimeli, J. Nguhiu-Mwangi and M.E. Mogoa, 2015. Prevalence of Claw Lesions and Their Association with the Locomotion Scores in Smallholder Zero-Grazed Dairy Cows in Kikuyu District, Kenya. Research Journal of Dairy Sciences, 9: 6-10.