Prevalence of Painful Lesions of the Digits and Risk Factors Associated with Digital Dermatitis, Ulcers and White Line Disease on Swiss Cattle Farms.
Authors: Fürmann Andreas, Syring Claudia, Becker Jens, Sarbach Analena, Weber Jim, Welham Ruiters Maria, Steiner Adrian
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Digital Lesions in Swiss Dairy Herds—Prevalence and Risk Factors Over three years (2020–2023), trained hoof trimmers electronically recorded digit disorders across 702 Swiss dairy farms, generating over 35,000 observations from nearly 25,000 cows to establish prevalence rates and identify herd and cow-level risk factors for painful lesions. At herd level, ulcers predominated (50.3% in 2022), though digital dermatitis M2 stage was most common at individual cow level (5.4%), with within-herd prevalence ranging dramatically from 0 to 66.1%, indicating substantial variation in disease management between operations. Herd-level factors (particularly housing type and breed composition) drove digital dermatitis risk—Holstein Friesians and loose housing systems showed elevated prevalence, whilst tie stalls paradoxically increased ulcer risk—whereas individual cow factors (parity, trimming timing) more strongly influenced ulceration and white line disease. Notably, cows trimmed during grazing periods faced significantly higher risk of ulcers and white line lesions compared to those trimmed indoors, and increasing parity elevated these risks whilst conversely protecting against digital dermatitis. These findings suggest that tailored management strategies—particularly adjusting trimming schedules around seasonal housing transitions and accounting for breed-specific vulnerabilities—could meaningfully reduce painful digital pathology in pasture-based systems similar to those studied.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Hoof trimmers should recognize that digital dermatitis risk is driven more by herd management decisions (trimming frequency, breed selection, housing type) than individual cow factors, suggesting systemic approach is needed.
- •Cows trimmed during grazing season show higher ulcer and white line disease rates—consider adjusted trimming protocols or timing for pasture-kept herds.
- •Housing system choice matters: tie stalls reduce dermatitis but increase ulcers, indicating no single system eliminates all digit problems; herd-specific risk assessment is essential.
Key Findings
- •Prevalence of alarm lesions (painful digit lesions) ranged from 0% to 66.1% within herds during the 2020-2023 study period, with ulcers (50.3%) and white line fissures (38.1%) being most common at herd level in 2022.
- •Digital dermatitis M2 stage showed 5.4% prevalence at cow level in 2022 and was primarily associated with herd-level factors, particularly increased trimming frequency and Holstein Friesian breed.
- •Ulcers and white line disease were predominantly associated with cow-level factors including parity, trimming during grazing period, and housing system (tie stalls vs. loose housing).
- •Tie stall housing reduced digital dermatitis and white line disease risk but increased ulcer risk compared to loose housing systems.