An Update on the Assessment and Management of Pain Associated with Lameness in Cattle

Johann F Coetzee; J K Shearer; Matthew L Stock; Michael D Kleinhenz; Sarel R van Amstel

doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2017.02.009

An Update on the Assessment and Management of Pain Associated with Lameness in Cattle

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2017 Jul;33(2):389-411. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2017.02.009.

Authors

Johann F Coetzee¹, J K Shearer², Matthew L Stock³, Michael D Kleinhenz³, Sarel R van Amstel⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 228 Coles Hall, 1710 Denison Ave, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. Electronic address: jcoetzee@vet.k-state.edu.
² Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 2203 Lloyd Vet Med Center, 1800 Christensen Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
³ Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 2203 Lloyd Vet Med Center, 1800 Christensen Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 2008 Vet Med, 1800 Christensen Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
⁴ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

PMID: 28579050
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2017.02.009

Abstract

Lameness affects the cattle industry via both economic losses and welfare considerations. In addition to production deficits, the pain and distress associated with lameness have been documented. Evaluation and prevalence of lame cattle are among the primary factors in third-party welfare audit programs. Mean lameness prevalence in herds has been reported to be as high as 36.8%, although a less than 10% prevalence of lame cattle was reported by some producers. Note that lameness is usually underreported by producers compared with independent observers, potentially because of a decreased sensitivity in detecting lame cattle.

Keywords: Analgesics; Cattle; Corrective trimming; Lameness.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle
Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
Cattle Diseases / therapy*
Dairying
Female
Lameness, Animal / complications
Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
Lameness, Animal / therapy*
Pain / etiology
Pain / veterinary*
Pain Management / methods
Pain Management / veterinary*
Prevalence