Prevention of laminitis in dairy cattle

Laminitis is a diffuse aseptic inflammation in the corium of the hoof. Severe acute laminitis presents a characteristic clinical picture, while milder forms may pass unnoticed in the peripartum period, uneasiness being attributed solely to local discomfort from the increased udder size and events directly associated with parturition. Acute laminitis may be a transient state, but is invariably followed by chronic laminitis of variable degree. A serious problem in itself, chronic laminitis is an important contributory factor to several other types of digital lameness including solar ulceration (pododermatitis circumscripta), white line abscessation and separation, and solear bruising and penetration. These secondary effects result from the change to a relatively flat wide bearing surface with poor strength at the important sole-wall junction area, the white line, and to poor quality horn.