Thin sole in cattle

Lameness has long been one of the three major economic disorders, particularly in dairy cattle. Thin soles, excessive wear of the soles, are only one reason for lameness. Their occurrence varies from farm to farm. Outbreaks may occur on intensively managed dairy farms, particularly on pasture-based systems. However, the disorder has been recognised in housed dairy and feed-lotted beef patients. Typically, thin soles are seen in dairy patients in early lactation exposed to wet conditions at claw level and long walking distances. Abrasive material/s on the walking surfaces and feeding platforms usually speed up the process of excessive wear. Excessive sole wear may be expected in new or re-concreted milking parlours and yards. The new concrete is very abrasive. In such situations, more than half of the herd may develop lameness within a few weeks from exposure to the new/re-concreted area (popularly referred to as ‘New concrete disease’). Early signs of thin soles include a slow, painful gait. The walking is often described as ‘walking on egg shells’. Milk production is lowered at individual patient and group level occurs. On clinical examination the dorsal wall of the claw is short and the sole is flexible on a thumb pressure. Haemorrhages in all claw zones may be present. The incidence of sole ulcers, white line disease, toe ulcers, subsolar abscess and osteitis of the third phalanx is often increased. The control should aim to prevent excessive wear, early detection of the affected patients and improve the claw horn quality. This article discusses the thin soles disorder not addressing that caused by over-trimming.Kiro Petrovsk