AHEAD IN ANIMAL HEALTH
Risk Factors for different DD stages Menno Holzhauer1, Sanne Kalsbeek (student)2 and Klaas Frankena2 1 Royal GD, Deventer, The Netherlands, 2Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Introduction Bovine digital dermatitis (DD) is painful, infectious disease that causes ulcerative lesions in cattle, most times at skin of legs, just above coronary band, which frequently results in severe lameness. First described in 1974, in Italy. Costs per case of DD were estimated at 132.96 US$,: milk loss, decreased fertility and treatment. DD is not only serious issue of animal welfare, but also significant economic consequences. Estimates for prevalence of DD in our country range from around 20% - 30%. Objective
Stages of DD according to the M-stage scoring system:
Objective of this study was to estimate the different risk factors base on the different stages of DD.
Material and methods Cross-sectional study performed to assess potential risk factors for the different stages of DD. Farms used in study were chosen by convenience sampling based on willingness of farmers to participate, geographical location and DD prevalence ( <10%, 10-25% and > 25%) last measured by the claw trimmer at the moment of regular preventative trimming. Attempted to create extensive database of dairy cattle that includes farms with varying DD prevalence in order to have enough variability for the analysis. 88 farms included in this study. Animals <21 months excluded from study. Table 1. Foot-prevalence of all M-stages of Digital Dermatitis in hind legs of Dutch dairy cows (n=13,532)
Arne VanHoudt
M1-stage
M2-stage
M1 Variable
Class
Herd size
≤50 >100
Manure scraping
OR
M2
95% CI
OR
M4
95% CI
OR
M4.1
95% CI
Ref
Ref
Ref
OR
95% CI
0.67
0.45
0.99
0.10
0.35
1.36
20.23
1.47
4.18
Ref
Manure disc
2.81
1.43
5.49
Manure robot
2.62
1.29
5.36
By hand No manure scraping Manure scraping frequency
Ref
0.16
Ref 0.08
0.31
0.49
Ref 0.28
0.87
0.18
1 - 2,5 x a 3-9 x a day
M0
61.5 %
8315
≥10 x a day
M1
1.4 %
186
M2
7.1 %
964
M3
0.4%
48
M4
20.9%
2832
M4.1
8.8%
1187
Ref
One manure scraper young and adult animals
No No manure scraping
Ref
Footbath for dry + young cows
No
2.69
Ref
Ref
Yes
0.56 Ref 1.22
Ref 0.32
0.98
Ref
Ref
5.90
5.25
Yes Footbath not used
Active compound footbath
Ref
Rarely
Frequency
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref
Footbath not used Formalin Copper sulphate
Summary of Odds Ratio’s for risk factors for stages M1, M2, M4 and M4.1 of DD.
Other Formalin + copper sulphate Coat colour Stocking density
Ref
2.08
Ref
2.88
Ref 1.37
Ref
1.50
Ref
1.18
1.60
Ref
Ref
1.89
1.10
3.22
0.9 – 1 cows per bed
2.19
1.42
3.37
Ref
Ref 2.81
95.88
! Ref
≤0.8 cows per bed
>1 cows per bed Rubber in walking path
!
Black and White Brown and White
This study showed that different stages of DD have different risk factors. Depending on the distribution of the stages among the herd, different measures could be taken to reduce DD prevalence. In this study, two possible mechanisms of DD transmission were proposed; manure robots or scraper and footbaths with alternative active compounds. In both cases, the odds were significantly higher for the M4 stage, but not for the other stages. More research is advisable to investigate the possible modes of transmission.
M4.1-stage
50-100
Prevalence
Conclusions
M4-stage
Table 2.
M-stage
Results
M3-stage
Arne VanHoudt
2.48
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref
No
16.42
3.08
1.68
5.66
Yes
Ref
No
3.04
Yes
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref
<2
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref
Dead ends in stable
Age
1.06
8.73
3
1.41
1.11
1.79
1.67
1.41
1.97
2.02
1.55
2.63
4
1.45
1.16
1.80
2.29
1.88
2.79
2.64
2.03
3.44
5
1.56
1.12
2.15
3.16
2.63
3.79
2.92
2.21
3.85
6
2.65
1.96
3.58
≥7
2.36
1.77
3.15
m.holzhauer@gdanimalhealth.com www.gdanimalhealth.com
GD2647/07-22