Abstract

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.

CT, Westwood, and IJ Lean

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 61, Christchurch, 128-134, 2001