Introduction

• Historically, it was thought that lameness in cattle led to a reduction in BCS due to reduced dry matter intakes, reduced time spent feeding and longer lying times.
• More recent work has shown that cows with lower BCS (≤ 2 on a scale 0 to 5) are actually more likely to become lame and have repeated lameness events, with a pattern of decreasing risk of lameness was observed with increasing BCS.
• A low BCS is linked to a reduced thickness of the digital cushion in the foot, as well as a lower milk yield and reduced fertility.

The digital cushion

Pathophysiology of lameness in relation to BCS

Fresh cow weight loss

The effect of digital dermatitis on the digital cushion

Conclusion

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Newsome R F, Green M J, Bell N J, Bollard N J, Mason C S, Whay H R & Huxley J N (2017) A prospective cohort study of digital cushion and corium thickness.  Part 2: Does thinning of the digital cushion and corium lead to lameness and claw horn disruption lesions? J Dairy Sci 100, 4759–4771 PubMed.
• Newsome R F, Green M J, Bell N J, Bollard N J, Mason C S, Whay H R & Huxley J N (2017) A prospective cohort study of digital cushion and corium thickness. Part 1: Associations with body condition, lesion incidence, and proximity to calving. J Dairy Sci 100, 4745–4758 PubMed.
• Lim P Y, Huxley J N, Willshire J A, Green M J, Othman A R & Kaler J (2015) Unravelling the temporal association between lameness and body condition score in dairy cattle using a multistate modelling approach. Prev Vet Med 118 (4), 370-377 PubMed.
• Randall L V, Green M J, Chagunda M G G, Mason C, Archer S C, Green L E & Huxley J N (2015) Low body condition predisposes cattle to lameness: An 8-year study of one dairy herd. J Dairy Sci 98, 3766–3777 PubMed.
• Green L E, Huxley J N, Banks C & Green M J (2014) Temporal associations between low body condition, lameness and milk yield in a UK dairy herd. Prev Vet Med 113 (1), 63-71 PubMed.
• Bicalho R C, Machado V S & Caixeta L S (2009) Lameness in dairy cattle: A debilitating disease or a disease of debilitated cattle? A cross-sectional study of lameness prevalence and thickness of the digital cushion. J Dairy Sci 92, 3175–3184 PubMed.
• Räber M, Scheeder M R L, Ossent P, Lischer C J & Geyer H (2006) The content and composition of lipids in the digital cushion of the bovine claw with respect to age and location - A preliminary report. Vet J 172 (1), 173-177 PubMed.
• Räber M , Lischer C J, Geyer H & Ossent P (2004) The bovine digital cushion – a descriptive anatomical study. Vet J 167, (3), 258-264 PubMed.