Oxidative stress and imbalance of mineral metabolism contribute to lameness in dairy cows.
Authors: Zhao, Wang, Wang, Wang, Wang, Wang
Journal: Biological trace element research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Oxidative Stress and Mineral Imbalance in Dairy Cow Lameness Lameness remains a costly production and welfare issue in dairy herds, yet the biochemical mechanisms underlying many cases remain poorly understood. Zhao and colleagues investigated 40 Chinese Holstein dairy cows over 60 days, comparing 20 clinically lame animals with 20 healthy controls through serial sampling of blood, hair, and hoof tissue at days 0, 30, and 60. Lame cows exhibited elevated markers of oxidative stress (increased MDA and GSSG/GSH ratio, decreased SOD activity) alongside significantly depleted serum, hair, and hoof concentrations of zinc, copper, and manganese—minerals critical for keratin synthesis, collagen cross-linking, and antioxidant enzyme function—whilst macrominerals (phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium) showed no meaningful differences except reduced hoof calcium content. Histological examination and hardness testing confirmed structurally compromised hoof tissue in lame animals, suggesting that selective micromineral deficiencies potentiate oxidative damage and impair hoof integrity. For practitioners, these findings underscore the importance of micromineral status (particularly Zn, Cu, and Mn) in lameness prevention; nutritional assessment should extend beyond conventional macro-mineral screening, and supplementation strategies might beneficially target oxidative stress reduction alongside correcting trace element imbalances in herds experiencing lameness problems.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Lameness in dairy cattle may be partially preventable through mineral supplementation targeting zinc, copper, and manganese to maintain hoof integrity
- •Monitoring serum antioxidant markers (SOD, metallothionein) and mineral status could help identify cattle at risk of lameness before clinical signs appear
- •Hoof quality assessment combined with mineral profiling provides a practical diagnostic approach to lameness management in dairy herds
Key Findings
- •Lame cows showed elevated MDA, CTX-II, and COMP levels with decreased SOD and MT compared to healthy cows, indicating oxidative stress
- •Serum, hair, and hoof samples from lame cows contained significantly lower Zn, Cu, and Mn levels, but similar P, Mg, and Ca levels (except hoof Ca) versus healthy cows
- •Histological examination and hardness testing demonstrated poor hoof quality in lame cows correlating with mineral depletion
- •Oxidative stress and selective mineral deficiency (particularly Zn, Cu, Mn) are implicated in the pathogenesis of lameness in dairy cows