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Lameness
in feedlot cattle is a serious economic problem. There
are many causes for lameness. It is important that the
problem be diagnosed correctly and treated quickly to
minimize economic losses.
A
review of the records from five large western feedlots
showed 13.1 percent of 1,843,652 animals were treated
for health problems. Lameness accounted for 16 percent
of these health problems and 5 percent of deaths of
feedlot cattle. Lame cattle accounted for 70 percent
of all sales of non-performing cattle.
The price received for these salvaged lame
animals was only 53 percent of the
original
purchase price. While lame cattle in this study were
sold, on average, 85 days after their arrival, they
weighed, on average, only 10 pounds more than their
in-weight. The total loss per lame animal was $121 per
head ($101.76 loss in value to all lame animals from
the sale of the salvaged animals, $4.96 for medication
and $14.28 for feed cost for salvaged animals). The
loss per head purchased was $2.54, which made for an
increase of $.50/cwt cost of gain.
Causes
of Feedlot Lameness
Diseases
of the feet account for approximately 70 percent of
all cases of lameness in feedlots. Other causes
include injuries to the upper skeleton or major
muscles (15 percent), septic joints (12 percent) and
injection site lesions (3 percent).
The incidence of each cause will vary by
season, source of cattle, environmental management,
cattle handling and implant decisions. However,
regardless of the circumstances, an accurate diagnosis
is the key to successful treatment and
prevention
of future cases. Examination of the animal is the key
to making an accurate diagnosis. Since most feedlot
lamenesses involve the feet, you must pick up the foot
to make a proper examination. Never medicate the
animal before making a proper diagnosis. Your
veterinarian should routinely review your cattle's
health problems.
Most foot diseases in feedlots are caused by
sole penetration from excessive wear (toe abscesses),
mechanical injuries from handling equipment, or
footrot.
Causes
of feedlot lameness:
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Toe
Abscesses
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Mechanical
Injury to the Hoof
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Footrot
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Swollen
Joints
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Broken
Bones
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Muscle
Damage
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Nonambulatory
Animals
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Injection
Site Damage
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Cause
of lameness
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Symptoms/cause
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Treatment
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Toe
abcesses
(soft
area at end of toe caused by infection – may
be a crack between hoof wall and sole – no
swelling between toes)
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Early:
sore, short-strided, no swelling
Progressed:
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noticeably lame
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may hold affected foot up
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slight swelling at top of foot
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Ø
Trim end of toe to relieve
pressure. If
it bleeds, you have trimmed too much
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Treat with long-acting
tetracycline
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Mechanical
injury
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Untreated
injuries can lead to infection
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Consult
your veterinarian
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Footrot
(zinc
methionine in ration along with antibiotics
& an ionophore may help prevent footrot)
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Ø
Similar to toe abcesses, but
with swelling between the toes
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Very bad smell between toes
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Long-acting sulfa boluses,
long-acting tetracycline, or 2 daily treatments
of tylosin
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If many in pen are affected,
mass medicate with sulfa or tetracycline in feed
for 5 days
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Swollen
joints
(accounts
for 12% of all feedlot lameness)
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Ø
Infection or injury to a joint
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Most common joints affected are
front fetlock, hock, elbow
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Ø
Consult your veterinarian
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Sale for salvage
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If under a long med withdrawal
time, euthanasia may be best option
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Broken
bones
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Sale for salvage
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If under med withdrawal,
isolate in small pen until med clears
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Muscle
damage
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“Bullers”
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Newly arrived cattle
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Rough handling
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Remove bullers from pen
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Consult veterinarian on
medication
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Nonambulatory
animals
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Injury to Central Nervous
System`
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Ø
Consult your veterinarian
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95% of these animals are
condemned at packer
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Injection
site damage
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Ø
Swelling and stiffness at
injection site
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Ø
Follow vaccine manufacturer’s
recommendations
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Give meds subcutaneously
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Never mix medications
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Summary
Make sure you have the problem diagnosed before
you treat the animal.
Most cases of lameness are in the feet and the
only way to diagnose the cause is to pick the foot up
for examination.
Check the toes for abscesses. If abscesses are
present trim only enough hoof
to relieve the pressure. Trimming too much can
make the problem worse.
Inspect handling facilities daily for loose
metal.
Footrot
is a disease of the soft tissue between the toes and
responds well to medication. If you do not get a good
response, recheck your diagnosis. Consider salvage of
animals with swollen joints or broken bones before you
treat them. Bullers
can have very severe muscle damage and should be
treated with great care.
Think
twice before trying to salvage a downer animal.
Injection site damage can be avoided by using
small doses, and giving medication subcutaneously if
allowed by the manufacturer.
Establish a working relationship with your
veterinarian and follow all medication and vaccine
withdrawal times.
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension
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