GROSS AND RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF THE FOOT WITH CLAW DISORDERS IN CULLED CATTLE AT NSUKKA ABATTOIR

Abstract

The main objective of this descriptive and cross-sectional study was to determine the common radiographic features of claws with gross disorders using abattoir samples. A total of 40 claws were collected from Nsukka abattoir. The claws were examined for identification of different types of gross lesions. Two radiographic exposures, dorso-plantar and lateral views of each of the claws were taken and evaluated for radiographic changes. The prevalence of infectious and non-infectious claw disorders was 55% and 45% respectively. White line disease (WLD), sole ulcer and horn heel erosion were the most prevalent gross lesions with 35%, 30% and 20% prevalent rates respectively while bulb ulcer and wall fissure were the least occurred claw disorders with 5% and 5% occurrence Infectious claw disorders (55%) had a relatively higher occurrence than the non-infectious disorders (45%). The most prominent radiographic abnormalities were noted in the second (PII) and third phalanxes (PIII) region. The radiographic changes were: increase in joint width (10%) subluxation of pedal bone joint (5%), exostoses (5%) of the pastern (PII) bone, sinking pedal bane (15%) in which the bone was displaced slightly ventrally away from the dorsal wall of the claw. Concurrent appearance of more than one radiographic feature in a single claw was noted in the claw samples.