Nutrition and lameness in pasture-fed dairy cattle
C.T. WESTWOOD AND I.J. LEAN
Wrightson Research, P.O. Box 939, Christchurch, New Zealand
Bovine Research Australasia, P.O. Box 660, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
E-Mail:
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 2001. 61:
128-134
This review examines the potential for nutritional factors to
contribute to the high incidence of foot lameness in New Zealand
pasture-fed dairy cattle. Spring and autumn temperate pastures are
highly digestible, contain high concentrations of rumen degradable
protein and the effectiveness of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) may be
too low to support optimum rumen function. Risk of laminitis and
lameness increases with chronic ruminal acidosis and there is evidence
for sub-optimal rumen pH in New Zealand cows. Inadequate uptake of trace
elements and minerals may compromise hoof health, and there is evidence
for lameness associated with the ingestion of high concentrations of
anti-nutritional compounds. The clinical examination of lameness in
pasture-fed cows must incorporate an investigation of the nutritional
status of the cow in addition to environmental, management and animal
factors.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Lameness; dairy cow; pasture; nutrition
Last Updated 7/08/01
