fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 11 March 2016 09:55

Digital dermatitis is here

Written by 
Digital dermatitis. Digital dermatitis.

Digital dermatitis is the most serious infectious cause of lameness in dairy cattle worldwide.

The disease now affects New Zealand dairy herds, says Richard Laven, associate professor in production animal health at Massey University.

Typically, digital dermatitis is found on the skin just above the interdigital space, and it may also be found along the coronary band. Digital dermatitis is most commonly found on the hind feet; fewer than 3% of affected cattle have lesions on the front feet only.

The classical lesion of digital dermatitis is a moist ulcer, Laven says.

However, digital dermatitis is a cyclical disease with lesions forming, healing and then returning, so it has multiple stages. The most persistent stage (often called M4) is a chronic thickening of the skin with rapidly spreading growths which can often resemble hairs (in some countries these are called hairy hoof warts).

In NZ the most common appearance of digital dermatitis is a small lesion less than 1 cm in size.

Larger lesions, either when they develop into ulcers or when they are growing, tend to be extremely painful

Digital dermatitis was first identified in Northern Italy in 1974, and is now reported worldwide.

The first NZ case occurred in 2004, with sporadic reports until around 2011 when the number increased markedly.

More like this

The power of the puggo stick

A Massey University lecturer has devised a simple No. 8 wire device to help shed some light on how to improve the persistence of plantain in dairy farm pastures.

Science supports NZ's reputation

Farmers, scientists, rural professionals and policy makers from around the country last week converged on Massey University in Palmerston North for the 36th annual workshop of the Farmed Landscape Research Centre.

Beware - FE is here!

A disease that costs the primary industry more than $200 million a year is potentially coming to a place near you soon.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.