Revisiting extremity diseases. Hidden causes (review)

Abstract

At the present stage of dairy farming development, both worldwide and in the Russian Federation, the problem of foot diseases is among the three main reasons for culling. The multifactorial nature of the causes of these diseases does not allow solving this problem by taking any selective measures. Since the main symptom of an extremity disease is claudication, the review provides the locomotion assessment system, as developed by Sprecher. We considered the basic factors of influence on disease rate and suggested control measures. The causes of extremity diseases are classified into external and internal ones. The external causes include chemical, microbiological, physical. The inner include genetic, nutritional. Among nutritional causes, we examined the combination of individual minerals and vitamins in the feed. We also noted the importance of quality and mineral composition of drinkable water for cows. To reduce the extremity disease rate, it is necessary to develop a prevention schedule by starting with the analysis of the current situation, i.e. history taking. Struggling with an extremity disease is a great multi-factor operation which involves the whole team. Regular medical examination, early detection of sick animals and timely decisions provide a high level of preventive measures and preservation of productive livestock.