Clinical assessment of infrared thermal techniquefor early detection of hoof disorders in cattle

R V  SURYAWANSHI; S D  JADHAV; S S  PITLAWAR; M K  PATIL; V B  DONGRE; B M  KONDRE

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i4.178366

Authors

R V SURYAWANSHI College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Udgir, Latur 413 517, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 440 001 India
S D JADHAV College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Udgir, Latur 413 517, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 440 001 India
S S PITLAWAR College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Udgir, Latur 413 517, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 440 001 India
M K PATIL College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Udgir, Latur 413 517, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 440 001 India
V B DONGRE College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Udgir, Latur 413 517, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 440 001 India
B M KONDRE College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Udgir, Latur 413 517, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur 440 001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i4.178366

Keywords:

Cattle, Hoof, Infrared, Lameness, Osteomyelitis, Thermographic

Abstract

The clinical study was undertaken in 36 cattle suffering with various types of hoof lameness. All the cattle were subjected to infrared thermal screening to record the skin surface temperature of the affected hoof. The average age and weight of the cattle were 30.38±4.89 months and 389.66 ±19.56kg, respectively, with 24 males and 12 females. Prevalence of hoof disorders was found to be higher in hind limb as compared to forelimbs included arthritis, overgrown hoof, white line disease and foot rot. Highest incidence of hoof disorders was observed in Deoni male cattle reared on hard floor housing system. Tachycardia (76.13±2.53/min) was persistently observed in affected cattle. Radiographic findings of digital joints revealed loss of periosteal integrity, osteomyelitis and altered bone
opacity. Phalangeal arthritis showed highest average lameness score of 3.25 as compared other hoof disorders. The mean average values of skin surface temperature of fetlock, interdigital claws and medial claws of affected hind limb was 33.69±0.35℃; 32.84±0.46℃ and 30.62±0.49 ℃ as compared to healthy limb which were 30.63±0.18℃; 29.80±0.33℃ and 28.57±0.42℃, respectively. The overall average mean value of skin surface temperature in healthy hooves and affected hooves were 28.54±0.45℃ and 30.46±0.57 ℃, respectively which was indicative of significant rise in skin temperature of affected hoof temperature. To conclude, the infrared thermography is a non-invasive and reliable technique in detecting early lameness due to hoof lesions.

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