– Dr. Michelle Arnold, Rminant Extension Veterinarian, University of Kentucky
Figure 1: Parts of the Bovine Hoof. Accessed from https://www.wavegoodbyetopain.co.uk/foot-anatomy-andbiomechanics.html 4/8/2025
There are many causes of lameness in beef cattle but nearly 90% of all lameness cases are due to something wrong in the foot. Since beef cattle producers generally make the initial diagnosis and treatment of lameness cases in their own cattle, it is important to establish assessment and treatment guidelines with your veterinarian so you will know when cases are failing to respond and in need of further examination. Although interdigital necrobacillosis (foot rot) is by far the most common hoof disorder in pastured beef cattle, it is not a condition to ignore and see if it gets better on its own. In fact, most disorders of the hoof, if not addressed quickly, can progress to a much more serious infection involving the bone, synovial structures, tendons and ligaments of the foot, collectively termed “deep digital sepsis”. Treatment at that advanced stage is expensive, radical and rarely successful.
One of the challenging aspects of discussing beef cattle lameness is the vocabulary utilized in bovine hoof anatomy (see Figure 1). A bovine “foot” is composed of two toes or “digits” that are typically referred to as “claws”. The claw is the constant interface between the animal and the environment. Each claw is covered by a rigid “hoof capsule”.
When viewing the hoof from the bottom, the “lateral claw” is the outside claw while the “medial claw” refers to the inside claw. The area in between the claws is the “interdigital space” and where the claws come together is termed the “interdigital cleft”. The “hoof wall” is by far the strongest and most important structure for weight bearing and is equivalent to the human fingernail. The “axial” wall is located in the interdigital space while the “abaxial” wall is located on the outer side of the claw. The “coronary band”, located at the hairline at the top of the hoof wall, is where the new horn grows from, and it takes about a year to reach the toe end. The “pastern” is the joint between the long cannon bone and the hoof. The “fetlock” is the joint above the pastern joint and is considered above the foot.
Figure 2: The blue line represents the imaginary line from the interdigital space and up the axial midline. Note the swelling is equally distributed on each side of the line in this case of foot rot. (Accessed from Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice; Volume 33, Issue 2, July 2017)
To begin the assessment of a newly discovered case of lameness, the first question to answer is whether the affected foot is swollen. Since the hoof capsule is rigid and unable to expand, swelling will be seen in the tissues immediately above the coronary band. Prior to assessment, moving the animal from deep grass or mud on to a solid surface and cleaning off any excessive dirt and debris will allow better visualization of the hoof. Start behind the animal, viewing the foot from the rear, and compare the distance between the dewclaws of the affected foot to that of the unaffected feet. The dewclaws will be spread further apart in a swollen foot than in a normal foot. The next question to answer is whether the swelling is symmetrical (as in cases of foot rot) or is one side more swollen than the other (as in cases of deep digital sepsis)? To do this, envision an imaginary line (see Figure 2) that begins in the interdigital space and bisects the foot up the middle of the leg (on the “axial midline”). The swelling from foot rot is typically symmetrical because the infection begins in the interdigital space. In contrast, deep sepsis causes most of the swelling on the side of the infected digit (claw). A second method to assess symmetry is to compare the widths of the heel bulbs on the affected foot. In cases of deep sepsis, the heel bulb will be much wider on the affected side while in foot rot cases, the heel bulbs will be similarly sized. To reiterate, the important take-home message is that deep digital sepsis must be addressed much more aggressively than foot rot and veterinary intervention is required as soon as possible to determine the best course of action. Antibiotics alone will not be enough to treat sepsis; amputation of the claw or surgical intervention to drain the infected area will be necessary to try to resolve the lameness.
Common causes of lameness in beef cattle that typically do not result in visible swelling of the foot include uncomplicated digital dermatitis (hairy heel warts), sole or toe ulcers, laminitis (founder), subsolar abscesses, or injuries higher up in the leg. The absence of swelling does not mean the animal does not need prompt attention. For example, untreated sole or toe ulcers can lead to abscess formation which requires more aggressive hoof trimming, antibiotics and longer healing time. Working with a veterinarian early in complicated lameness cases will facilitate arriving at the right diagnosis and the correct treatment for that disorder.
As mentioned previously, foot rot is the most common condition observed in pastured beef cattle. This is an infectious disease caused by bacteria invading the interdigital skin and subcutaneous tissues, often due to trauma to the soft skin between the claws. Warm, moist environmental conditions, especially when cattle congregate and defecate in shady wet areas, softens the interdigital skin. The initiating injury may be caused by walking on rough surfaces, sharp gravel, twigs, stubble, frozen or hardened mud that tear the softened skin. Mineral deficiencies of zinc, selenium and copper contribute as well. The disease begins with a sudden onset of lameness where the animal tip toes on the affected foot. The interdigital skin and soft tissues become red and swollen, causing the claws to spread apart. The swelling is symmetrical and extends from the top of the hoof to the dewclaws and sometimes higher. Later, the swollen skin cracks open and dead/decaying tissue with a foul odor is present. Early treatment with appropriate injectable antibiotic therapy such as with Ceftiofur (Excede®, Excenel®), Florfenicol (Nuflor®, Resflor®), Oxytetracycline, Tulathromycin (Draxxin®, other generic), or Tylosin (Tylan®) will usually resolve this problem but delays in treatment or not following up on recovery after treatment may result in deep digital sepsis and a poor outcome. Do not forget the possibility of a foreign body that may be stuck deep within the interdigital space; improvement will only come after the foreign object is removed.
Figure 3: From “Identifying and Managing the Common Causes of Lameness”
In summary, following some basic rules (see the 5 Thumb Rules listed below) when approaching a lameness case on the farm should help determine if it can be appropriately managed with antibiotics alone or if veterinary examination is required. In addition to these basic rules, the Zinpro Corporation and Kansas State University have developed a systematic approach to diagnosing beef cattle lameness called “The Step-Up™ Program” (see Figure 3 above). The total program includes the identification and treatment of lameness as well as information on good nutrition, proper facility design, and appropriate animal handling and husbandry practices to reduce the lameness incidence within the beef industry. Ultimately, improvement in animal welfare, appropriate use of antibiotics, and reduction in the costs associated with lameness will result from a little extra time spent assessing the problem before reaching for the bottle on the shelf.
Thumb Rules (Dr. David Van Metre et al; AABP Proceedings, September 2005, Vol. 38)
- Causes of lameness can often be categorized according to the presence or absence of visible swelling of the soft tissues of the foot.
- Because interdigital necrobacillosis (foot rot) is centered in the interdigital skin, early cases are characterized by swelling that is symmetrical relative to the longitudinal (axial) midline of the foot.
- Deep sepsis of the digit is characterized by swelling that is asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal (axial) midline of the foot. Deep sepsis should be addressed immediately by a veterinarian.
- On-farm lameness treatment protocols should include an expected deadline for resolution – once the deadline is reached, if the animal has not recovered, the veterinarian should be consulted.
- Cattle that become lame from digital wounds (punctures, lacerations) should be scheduled for prompt veterinary examination because deep sepsis almost always results from this type of injury.