In dairy cattle, acute laminitis is most often caused by over-feeding high-energy feeds, with chronic changes developing usually after multiple bouts of disease. Calves and heifers with laminitis usually have been ‘pushed’ for growth and fed excessive amounts of easily fermentable feeds (e.g. rye or wheat) or fed left-over lactating cow TMR. Overseas, laminitis has been described in both beef and dairy calves (Greenough et al 1990, Bargai et al 1992), with both authors suggesting that high protein or starch intakes were crucial in the development of the condition.
History and clinical findings
In November 2009, we had a call from one of our dairy farmers to examine a group of 38 ten to twelve week-old Friesian calves with ‘long toes’. We examined the four worst affected calves. All had difficulty in rising and were reluctant to move. While standing, they often extended their forelegs and tucked their hind legs beneath them. Excessively long claws were noticed, as well as cracking of the toes and wall. A diagnosis of clinical laminitis was made.
Corrective foot trimming was attempted. Severe sole bruising and haemorrhage were observed at trimming. However trimming did not appear to be very successful; two calves were euthanased in the following week.
The calves were re-examined in January; of the 36 remaining animals 29 had chronic hoof changes typical of laminitis such as laminitic grooves in the dorsal wall.
Feeding History
During their first weeks of life the calves had been fed 4L per day of milk replacer with ad lib straw. No calf pellets were fed at any stage. From three weeks of age the calves had been fed an ad lib barley/pea mix (the farmer estimated that about 2-3kg / calf /day was consumed) with ad lib straw. The aim of this regime was to cut costs by feeding grain instead of pellets.
Outcome
Upon discussion with the farmer and two veterinarians from our practice; it was decided not to keep the calves as dairy replacements. The calves were separated based on severity of laminitic changes – good, marginal or severe. The least affected animals were selected to fatten up for slaughter as adults (no grain to be fed!). We also investigated the possibility of putting the worst affected animals back on milk to be sold as veal.
Discussion
In most previous reports of laminitis in calves the condition has been attributed to dietary factors. These calves had access to ad lib barley/pea mix; Svensson and Bergsten (1997) reported laminitis in calves fed on 1kg/calf/day of concentrates (oats/rye/wheat mix), the calves on this farm were eating two to three times that amount. Unfortunately the company which supplied the grain mix was not able to provide a sample to test for protein and starch content but a feed-based origin remains highly likely, particularly as the farmer had sold approximately 40 calves from the same mob to another farmer in the area, before they had been given access to the barley/pea mix, and no laminitis in these calves had been observed.
This was an unusual case for us as none of our veterinarians have encountered laminitis in calves before. With increased cost-cutting on many farms, particularly in the area of calf feeding, this may not be the last.
Editor’s note – if you do see any similar cases we would be interested in frozen feet from such animals – contact the editor at r.laven@massey.ac.nz
Richard Nortje Southern Rangitikei Vet services, Bulls
References
- Bargai U, Shamir I, Lublin A, Bogin E. Winter outbreaks of laminitis in dairy calves: aetiology and laboratory, radiological and pathological findings Veterinary Record 131, 411, 1992.
- Greenough PR, Vermunt JJ, McKinnon JJ, Fathy FA, Berg PA, Cohen RDH. Laminitis-like changes in the claws of feedlot cattle Canadian Veterinary Journal 31, 202, 1990.
- Svensson C, Bergsten C. Laminitis in young dairy calves fed a high starch diet and with a history of bovine viral diarrhoea virus infection. Veterinary Record 140, 574-577, 1997.
