Determining if a cow is lame can be as simple as watching it walk.
Chris Clark, an associate professor of large animal medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, said lameness in cattle is caused by pain.
“The animals are lame because something in their leg hurts, and probably 90 percent of the time, that pain is in their feet.”
Clark said a cow will often walk with an arched back if the lameness is in the hind legs. If the lameness is in the front legs, it will often walk with a pronounced head nod.
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Agriculture Canada research scientist Anne Marie de Passillé agreed, but added there are other ways to identify the problem.
One method is to watch which cows come up to feed first. Cows should be checked if they are usually quick to feed but now come more slowly or don’t come at all.
De Passillé said studies show producers identify one out of every four or five lame cows, which could mean a significant loss of productivity.
Clark said recognizing the presence of lameness is only the first step in avoiding this loss.
“One of the important things to remember is that lameness is … not a diagnosis. And so, if you have a cow that is lame, it is important to determine why she is lame so that she can be treated appropriately.”
Clark said infections in the joints or tendons are almost impossible to treat.
“The worst-case scenario, with lameness, if it’s not treated, it can end up in animals being slaughtered or culled,” he said. “And often, because these animals have been treated with antibiotics, they can’t even be slaughtered for human consumption.”
Less drastic results include infertility and weight loss.
De Passillé said the average cost of lameness is $300 to $500 per cow.
Alberta Agriculture and researchers at Agriculture Canada and the University of British Columbia have developed a two-disk CD-ROM to help producers better identify lameness. Entitled Firm Steps: Identifying Lameness in Dairy Cattle, it is available by calling 800-292-5697 or online at www.agric.gov.ab.ca.
