Despite an increase in domestic milk production, the dairy industry in the Dominican Republic (D. R.) has not been able to adequately meet the demand of the ever-growing Dominican population, prompting the government and milk processing plants to sponsor programs which will increase the national production of milk and eventually lead to milk self-sufficiency. One obstacle to this goal is a very low reproductive rate in cows and heifers due in part to the tropical setting. Year-round heat stress may result in abnormal follicular dynamics and decreased oocyte and sperm quality causing reproductive efficiency to decline drastically. The specific purpose of this project was to examine and characterize the reproductive practices and outcomes of the Dominican dairy industry by region and to attempt to identify factors that influence dairy reproductive efficiency. During the course of the study, 43 farms were visited over a 10-week period and evaluated. Farms were chosen throughout 4 of the 5 regions of the country and were selected based on their size (preferably 40 adult cows or more), availability of data, and demonstrated motivation by the owner in improving the herd. Individual herd evaluation was broken into four major components: owner interview, farm evaluation, collection of individual cow reproductive data, and adult cow evaluation. Once observations had been made and catalogued, all data were summarized on the herd level and analyzed descriptively. In addition to descriptive analysis, multiple regression techniques were used to select independent variables which explain most of the variance for each of four reproductive outcomes: days to first service, services per pregnancy, projected calving interval, and service rate. In general, reproductive management practices varied depending on region and farm size. Average lameness within the herd was the most important factor in explaining the variability within services per pregnancy and projected calving interval. As average herd lameness increases by 1 point (based on a 1 to 4 scale), services per pregnancy and projected calving interval increase by 0.65 services per pregnancy and 61.1 days respectively according to the model formulated. Increase in the number of employees involved in estrus detection resulted in higher days to first service. The Santo Domingo region had lower days to first service possibly due to widespread reproductive hormone use within the region. The percentage of Holsteins within the herd was associated with increased services per pregnancy and projected calving interval. Increases in service rate were most closely associated with the type of record category used, indicating that a larger sample population with thorough insemination records may be needed to adequately assess this outcome. In part, reproductive efficiency in the Dominican Republic can be potentially improved by enhancing methods for estrus detection. Mechanical aids to estrus detection (tailhead chalk, K-mar® patches, etc.) may help increase estrus detection efficiency in herds currently only relying on visual observation. Assigning 1-2 people primarily to estrus detection and increasing the frequency of hormone usage may also improve estrus detection efficiency. The main emphasis for Dominican dairy producers, however, should be on preventing new lameness and culling chronically lame cows once it is economically feasible to do so. Reducing the incidence of lameness could, in itself, dramatically improve reproductive efficiency in the Dominican Republic. / Master of Science

Desmopathy of the collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint is a common cause of lameness in the horse and carries a poor prognosis for soundness. Intralesional treatment has been suggested as a way to improve outcome; however, limited reports describe methods for injecting this ligament. This study compares the accuracy of injecting the collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus radiographic guidance. Equine cadaver digit pairs (n=10) were divided by random assignment to injection of the ligament by either technique and assessed using post-injection MRI or gross sections. Images from the proximal, middle, and distal portions of the ligament were blindly evaluated for successful injection. McNemar\'s test was performed to determine statistical difference between injection techniques. Fisher\'s exact test was used to evaluate number of injection attempts and injection of the medial or lateral collateral ligament. MRI-guided injection was successful more frequently than radiographic-guided injection on post-injection MRI (24 of 30 versus 9 of 30; p=0.0006) and gross sections (26 of 30 versus 13 of 30; p=0.0008). At each level of the ligament (proximal, middle, and distal), MRI-guided injection resulted in more successful injections than radiographic guidance. Statistical significance occurred at the proximal aspect of the collateral ligament based on post-injection MRI (p=0.0143) and the middle portion of the ligament based on gross sections (p=0.0253). Based on these results, injection guided by standing, low-field MRI should be considered an option for delivering intralesional regenerative therapy to horses with desmopathy of these collateral ligaments. / Master of Science

A dermatite digital (DD) é uma das principais doenças podais que acomete bovinos leiteiros, destacando-se negativamente pela queda na produção o volume de leite produzido e pelo seu oneroso tratamento. Como alternativa ao uso de antibióticos, a terapia fotodinâmica (PDT) se apresenta como uma opção interessante no tratamento de infecções cutâneas em animais de produção, evitando a seleção de micro-organimos resistentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o uso da PDT para tratar a DD em bovinos leiteiros. Para compor os grupos experimentais, 20 lesões de DD, localizadas nos membros pélvicos de 16 animais, foram tratadas com PDT (350mW/Led; = 660nm ± 10nm; A = 13,20 cm2; I = 120mW/cm2) associado à aplicação tópica do fotossenbilizador azul de metileno (300µM; apresentação em gel; com 5 min de tempo de pré-irradiação) ou com aplicação tópica de oxitetraciclina (500 mg em solução à 20%). Cada lesão foi tratada duas vezes com intervalo de 14 dias entre elas. A caracterização macroscópica das lesões foi realizada no momento inicial, e fotografias digitais foram realizadas semanalmente para análise da redução da área das lesões. Além disto, foram coletadas biópsias de cada lesão nos dias 1, 7, 21 e 28, sendo posteriormente analisadas para diferentes colorações histológicas, as quais objetivaram a detecção de micro-organismos e a análise comparativa do processo de cicatrização. Ainda, biópsias de pele realizadas na região dos bulbos dos talões de 10 animais que não apresentavam lesões foram usadas como controle histológico. Em ambos os tratamentos houve redução da área da lesão, sendo que não houve diferença significante entre os tratamentos. Apesar da regressão significante ao longo do período, no último dia de avaliação, três animais tratados com oxitetraciclina ainda apresentavam pequenas lesões, algo que não foi observado nos animais tratados com PDT. Adicionalmente, o tratamento com oxitetraciclina resultou em leve aumento de colágeno do tipo III e diminuição de colágeno do tipo I, enquanto a PDT promoveu aumento significante da área total de colágeno, em especial do tipo I, em relação ao momento inicial. Espiroquetas foram observadas em todas as lesões, no momento que antecedeu os tratamentos, entretanto não foram visualizadas na pele dos animais saudáveis. Ao término do período de avaliação, cinco lesões tratadas com oxitetraciclina ainda apresentavam espiroquetas, enquanto no grupo tratado com PDT não foi possível evidenciar estes micro-organismos em nenhuma das lesões. Portanto, a PDT mostrou ser uma opção mais eficaz do que a oxitetraciclina no tratamento da DD. / Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) stands out as one of the most important diseases that affect dairy cows, being responsible for negative economic implications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an interesting therapeutic option to treat superficial infections on livestock animals, avoiding the overuse of antibiotics, and consequently, the selection of multidrug-resistant pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of PDT to treat BDD. Twenty BDD lesions located in the pelvic limbs of 16 animals were treated by PDT (350mW / Led; = 660nm ± 10nm; A = 13, 20 cm2, I = 120mW/cm2) associated with topical application of methylene blue photosensitizer (300µM; gel presentation; 5 min of pre-irradiation time) or topical application of oxytetracycline (500 mg in 20% solution). Each lesion was treated twice with an interval of 14 days. Lesions were individually classified, and digital photographs were weekly performed to evaluate the reduction of lesions. Additionally, biopsies of each lesion were collected on days 1, 7, 21 and 28; and different histological stains were used to detect microorganisms and compare the healing process after treatmens. Yet, skin biopsies from 10 healthy animals, colleted in the area between heel bulbs, were used as controls. In both treatments, we observed the reduction of lesions area, but there were no significant difference between them. At the last day, three animals treated by topical oxytetracycline still presented small lesions, whereas no lesions were evidenced in the group treated by PDT. The treatment with oxytetracycline resulted in a slight increase in type III collagen and decreased type I collagen levels, while PDT treatment led to a significant increase in the total area of both collagen (mostly type I). Spirochetes were observed in all lesions before treatments but were not detected in the skin of healthy animals. At the end of evaluation period, five lesions treated by topical oxytetracycline still presented spirochetes, whereas in PDT group no spirochetes were evidenced. Therefore, PDT was shown to be a more effective option for BDD when it was compared to topical oxytetracycline treatment.

Submitted by Franciele Moreira (francielemoreyra@gmail.com) on 2018-04-18T16:32:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Denise Russi Rodrigues - 2018.pdf: 2158988 bytes, checksum: 99eb6ec528fea195f2c424de85538a6f (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-04-19T12:24:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Denise Russi Rodrigues - 2018.pdf: 2158988 bytes, checksum: 99eb6ec528fea195f2c424de85538a6f (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-19T12:24:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Denise Russi Rodrigues - 2018.pdf: 2158988 bytes, checksum: 99eb6ec528fea195f2c424de85538a6f (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-08 / Vertebral osteomyelitis is an emerging disease in the world poultry industry, characterized by immobility and mortality of broilers and breeders chicken due to the infectious process in the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4). The aim of this study was to develop an experimental model induced by enteric stress to better understand the pathogenesis of vertebral osteomyelitis, as well as to investigate the role of enteric stress in intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation to liver, spleen and vertebral column of broiler chickens. Enterococcus cecorum strains (11 TXs and 11 TXb) that presented the virulence genes virulence factors: capsular polysaccharide I and II, enterococcal polysaccharide antigen M and P, protein lipoate synthase and surface protein LPTXG3 were inoculated after enteric stress induced by the use of dexamethasone for seven days in the diet (DEX), dried distilled grain with solubles - DDGS (30%) in the diet and the 24-hour food restriction (RA). The macroscopic findings of lesions responsible for claudication affected 19.37% (186/960) of the birds submitted to enteric stress and 9.06% (87/960) had vertebral osteomyelitis. The group that presented enteric inflammation induced by DDGS in the diet had an increase (p<0.05) in the incidence of vertebral osteomyelitis and lameness. The intestinal permeability, as assessed by serum FITC-d levels, increased (p<0.05) in DEX at 16, 23 e 30 days of age and RA at 30 days of age. After inoculation of E. cecorum, there was an increase (p<0.05) in microaerophilic bacteria in the liver and spleen in the DEX group at 20 days. Likewise, an increase of these bacteria was observed in T4 in the RA group at 27 days of age and in the DEX group at 34 days. Bacterial isolation identified a diversity of bacteria as species of Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus, as well as Escherichia coli in T4, suggesting that other microbial agents besides E. cecorum may be involved in vertebral osteomyelitis lesions. Therefore, the experimental reproduction model of vertebral osteomyelitis induced by enteric stress in broilers makes it possible to study vertebral osteomyelitis lesions, which favors its use in the applied research of preventive and therapeutic strategies for this disease. In addition, it is concluded that enteric stress increases intestinal permeability and promotes the translocation of opportunistic bacteria to the liver, spleen and spine of broiler chickens, which may lead to the development of vertebral osteomyelitis in broilers. / A osteomielite vertebral é uma doença emergente na avicultura mundial, caracterizada por imobilidade e mortalidade de frangos e matrizes de corte devido ao processo infeccioso na quarta vértebra torácica (T4). Assim, objetivou-se desenvolver um modelo experimental induzido pelo estresse entérico para o melhor entendimento da patogênese de osteomielite vertebral, além de investigar o papel do estresse entérico na permeabilidade intestinal e translocação bacteriana para fígado, baço e coluna vertebral de frangos de corte. As cepas de Enterococcus cecorum (11 TXs e 11 TXb) que apresentavam os fatores de virulência: polissacarídeo capsular I e II, antígeno de polissacarídeo enterocócico M e P, proteína lipoato sintase e proteína de superfície LPTXG3 foram inoculadas após estresse entérico induzido pela utilização de dexametasona por sete dias na ração (DEX), grãos secos de destilaria com solúveis- DDGS (30%) na dieta e a restrição alimentar (RA) de 24 horas. Os achados macroscópicos de lesões responsáveis pela claudicação afetaram 19,37% (186/960) das aves submetidas ao estresse entérico e 9,06% (87/960) apresentaram osteomielite vertebral. O grupo que apresentou inflamação entérica induzida por DDGS na dieta apresentou aumento (p<0,05) na ocorrência de osteomielite vertebral e claudicação. A permeabilidade intestinal, avaliada pelos níveis séricos de FITC-d, aumentou (p<0,05) significativamente nos tratamentos DEX aos 16, 23 e 30 dias de idade e RA aos 30 dias de idade. Após inoculação de E. cecorum, houve aumento (p<0,05) da contagem de bactérias microaerófilas no fígado e baço no grupo DEX aos 20 dias. Da mesma forma, foi verificado um aumento dessas bactérias na T4 no grupo RA aos 27 dias de idade e no grupo DEX aos 34 dias. Por meio de isolamento bacteriano, identificou-se uma diversidade de bactérias como espécies de Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus, bem como Escherichia coli na T4, sugerindo que outros agentes microbianos, além de E. cecorum, podem estar envolvidos nas lesões de osteomielite vertebral. Portanto, o modelo de reprodução experimental de osteomielite vertebral induzido pelo estresse entérico em frangos de corte possibilita o estudo de lesões da osteomielite vertebral, o que favorece sua utilização na pesquisa aplicada de estratégias preventivas e terapêuticas para essa doença. Além disso, conclui-se que o estresse entérico aumenta a permeabilidade intestinal e propicia a translocação de bactérias oportunistas para o fígado, baço e coluna vertebral de frangos de corte podendo levar o desenvolvimento de osteomielite vertebral em frangos de corte.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-09T19:52:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) CAROLINE DA SILVA SILVEIRA.pdf: 6734641 bytes, checksum: 8df9bfda7306dbc3b2714620b6612002 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-09T19:52:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) CAROLINE DA SILVA SILVEIRA.pdf: 6734641 bytes, checksum: 8df9bfda7306dbc3b2714620b6612002 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-09T19:52:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) CAROLINE DA SILVA SILVEIRA.pdf: 6734641 bytes, checksum: 8df9bfda7306dbc3b2714620b6612002 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / Doenças podais são uma das principais injúrias em rebanhos de pequenos ruminantes em diversos países e a pododermatite infecciosa (Footrot) é relatada como a mais frequente em ovinos no Brasil. No Rio Grande do Sul, as doenças podais ainda são um grave problema para os criadores de ovinos e pouco tem sido feito para saná-las. O Footrot, mesmo se tratando de uma doença de notificação obrigatória e frequente na região, os registros oficiais sobre a situação da doença nos rebanhos são escassos. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo descrever as principais características das lesões podais observadas em ovinos da Mesorregião Sudoeste do Rio Grande do Sul, com ênfase nos aspectos epidemiológicos, macroscópicos, microscópicos e radiográficos das lesões de Footrot. O estudo foi realizado em duas etapas. Inicialmente foram avaliados ovinos em 27 propriedades rurais, das quais 21 registraram a ocorrência de lesões podais em ovinos com perdas econômicas significativas. Aproximadamente 1.700 ovinos, em média 10% dos animais do rebanho, apresentavam diferentes graus de claudicação decorrente de lesões podais que, macroscopicamente, variavam de brandas a severas. Posteriormente, foram avaliados os variados graus de lesões de Footrot nos ovinos. Em casos de abate e necropsia, os cascos dos ovinos com as lesões foram submetidos à avaliação macroscópica, radiográfica e microscópica. Dessa forma a doença foi classificada em cinco graus de severidade que variaram de 1 (lesões leves) a 5 (lesões graves). Verificou-se que diversos fatores como clima e manejo foram favoráveis para o desenvolvimento das lesões podais e essas estão associadas, na maioria dos casos, a Footrot em diferentes estágios de evolução. A partir dessa classificação em graus foi possível classificá-los macroscopicamente em duas síndromes clínicas propostas, a saber Footrot benigno e maligno. Essa classificação facilita o estabelecimento das medidas de controle com intuito de limitar a propagação da doença e evitar a evolução das lesões nos cascos acometidos. / Foot diseases are one of the main disorders in small ruminant flocks in several countries and infectious pododermatite (Footrot) is reported as the most frequent podal lesions in sheep in Brazil. In Rio Grande do Sul state, foot diseases still a serious problem for sheep farmers and little has been done to remedy them. Footrot is a notifiable disease and frequent in the region, the official records on the disease situation in herds are scarce. This study aimed to describe the main features of foot lesions observed in sheep from Mesoregion Southwest of Rio Grande do Sul, with emphasis on epidemiology, macroscopic, microscopic and radiographic changes of Footrot injuries. The study was conducted in two steps. Initially, sheep were evaluated on 27 farms, of which 21 showed records of the occurrence of foot lesions in sheep and significant economic losses. Approximately 1,700 sheep, about 10% of the flocks, showed varying degrees of lameness due to foot lesions, macroscopically characterized as mild to severe. Subsequently, they assessed the varying degrees of injuries Footrot in sheep. Hooves with injuries were submitted to macroscopic, radiographic and microscopic evaluation. Thus the disease was classified into five grades of severity ranging from 1 (mild injury) to 5 (severe damage). It has been found that several factors such as weather and handling were favorable for the development of foot injuries and these are associated in most Footrot cases in different stages of evolution. Based on the classification in degrees of infectious pododermatitis it was possible to classify them macroscopically in clinical syndromes proposed as benign and malignant Footrot. This classification facilitates the establishment of control measures with the intention of reduce spread of disease and prevent the development of lesions in affected hooves.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Lameness and mastitis are the two most costly diseases in the dairy industry. Reduction of these diseases through housing and management is beneficial. Compost bedded pack (CBP) and sand freestall barns were compared in a long-term, on-farm study to assess the effect of housing on each disease. Another research objective was to evaluate the effects of ambient weather conditions on moisture and 20 cm internal temperature of CBP. Compost bedded pack moisture, C:N ratio, and internal temperature effects on cleanliness, mastitis, and bedding bacterial counts were also considered. The last research objective was to evaluate the economics of bedding material decisions in CBP and provide a user-friendly decision support tool to predict bedding costs and usefulness.

The thesis isfocused on thesymptomsofcattlelameness, it´srelation to thereproduction and productionfigures. Describesthe most frequentdiseases in farms in the Czech Republic. Itfocuses on factorsaffectingthequality and thehealthofthehoof, hoofdisease incidence and solutionthehealthconsequences on reproduction and productionfordairycows. Oneofthe most important and effectivefactorreducingthe risk oflamenesshooftreatmentispreventive and early treatmentofinfectious and non-infectioushoofillness. Functionalhooftreatmentworks as a preventionof non-infectioushoofdisease. Disinfectionbaths serve to preventthespreadofinfectiousdiseasesof a herdfingers. Lamenessispossible to alleviate by improvingthequalityofstable technology and fundingtraceelements in theration, ofcoursethequality and balance ratio ofconcentrates and roughagefeedisnecessarytoo

A claudicação é a expressão clínica de dor ou desconforto e é uma das principais, se não a principal limitação à questão de bem estar animal em pecuária leiteira, mundialmente. Este trabalho objetivou verificar se o tratamento de doenças digitais de vacas com claudicação severa melhora, em curto prazo, a locomoção e o comportamento. Foram utilizadas 34 vacas leiteiras com claudicação severa. Escores de locomoção foram conferidos às vacas, no dia anterior e no 6º dia após o tratamento. As observações comportamentais foram realizadas no dia anterior e um, seis e oito dias após o tratamento de doenças digitais. As vacas foram observadas durante a parte diurna do dia para estimar as proporções de tempo gasto nas atividades ingestivas: ruminação, alimentação, sem atividade mastigatória (descansando) e em atividades posturais: deitadas e em pé. Os dados comportamentais foram submetidos à análise de variância, procedimento Mixed do SAS ®, de acordo com um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com medidas repetidas no tempo, considerando-se no modelo o efeito de dia, raça, tipo de lesão, idade, dias em lactação, posição e número de membros com lesão. O tratamento melhorou o escore de locomoção uma semana após o tratamento, mas não houve alterações nas proporções dos tempos despendidos para as atividades comportamentais observadas. Embora o tratamento tenha melhorado o escore de locomoção, o comportamento animal não foi alterado. / Lameness can cause discomfort and pain which may impair behavior and welfare. This study aimed to verify if the corrective trimming on cows with severe claudication improves the locomotion and behavior. Thirty-four lactating Jersey and Holstein cows with severe lameness problems were used. Cows were scored for lameness on day -1 (previous) and 6 after trimming according to a 5-point scale, while behavior was evaluated on days -1 (previous) and on days 1, 6 and 8 following trimming. Cows were observed during the diurnal part of the day and the proportions of time spent in ingestive behavior: ruminating, feeding and resting (no chewing activity) as well as in posture lying or standing were registered. Behavior data was submitted to variance analysis using the Mixed procedure of SAS® according to a completely randomized design with repeated measurements, considering in the model the effect of day, breed, type of lesion, age, days in milk, number and position of locomotion members with lesion. Lameness score was reduced one week after treatment. The treatment improved the lameness score a week after treatment, but there was no change in the proportions of time spent in the behavioral activities. Despite the improvement on lameness score, trimming did not change expressively the behavior of lactating cows in a short time period.

One of the basic conditions for achieving a positive production and meeting economic objectives in cattle breeding is their high and regular reproductive performance. Amongst the most significant factors influencing cattle fertility is the health state of heifers. To breed cattle successfully, it is essential to ensure that their feet are in a good condition, in particular hoofs. Diseased feet lead to the reduction of cattle performance and affect their welfare which results in a negative impact on cattle fertility. This thesis is concerned with the influence of cattle lameness on reproductive indicators of cows. For the purpose of the research, a group of cows from ZD Pluhuv Zdar including 843 dairy cows of the Holstein breed and Czech Simmental breed was studied. Equally, all cows originated from two different types of stabling. The following information were checked about each cow: the identification number, stabling number, breed, age, date of calving, order of lactation, performance, interim period, service period, insemination interval, insemination index and any relevant hoof problems. The impact of hoof problems on reproductive indicators that depended on the order of lactation and breed were analysed in the program Statistica using two-factor anova. It was observed that there existed a significant influence of hoof disease on each reproduction indicator. Dairy cows on the 3rd and higher level of lactation showed an evident difference in the length of the interim period. It was found that healthy dairy cows without any hoof disease had on average 385 day long interim period, whereas dairy cows with hoof problems had 398 day long interim period. It is apparent that the interim period was lengthened by 13 days in dairy cows with lameness. In addition, the values for service period and insemination index increased in the group with cattle lameness (by 17 days and the value of 3.17). In the case of insemination interval values, the difference between healthy and diseased cows was the least apparent. Furthermore, it was proven that the combination of infectious and non-infectious diseases have the greatest impact on reproduction indicators that seem to increase their value as a result. This causes a great deal of stress to an organism of an animal. When comparing reproduction indicators between breeds, it was noticeable that there was an influence on the cross breeding and how strained the Holstein breed was. The average length of interim period was 8 days longer in the Holstein breed group than Czech Simmental cattle. Furthermore, the length of the service period was 5 days longer in the Holstein cattle group. From the data, it can be concluded that any hoof disease in herds should not be neglected and stock breeders should pay increased attention to hoof problems since it could pose a risk on the whole stock breeding economics. A stock breeder should focus on the regular and careful trimming, washing and treatment of hoofs. In addition, attention should be paid to stabling and how comfortable it is for dairy cows, as well as the quality and complexity of feeding portions that are served.