Report on the workshop on the biology of lameness (Funded by MDC & Scottish Office)

By Logue, D. N., Cattle Practice, 1999
Research Paper Web Link / URL:
Description
This workshop brought together 40 researchers on cattle lameness to improve links between them, review and present current knowledge and identify areas where more research is needed. In the first session on risk factors for lameness two papers were presented (Pathogenesis of lameness due to claw horn lesions, by P. Ossent, and Functional anatomy its relationship to claw horn lesions, by S. Kempson) and groups considered the following risk factors, growth and aging, genotype and phenotype, nutrition, environment, and behaviour. In the second session on the biology of lameness papers on claw horn disruption (by J. Webster) and aspects of cell biology (C. Knight and K. Hendry) were followed by round-table discussions on cell biology, nutrition, endocrinology, soft tissue and internal biomechanics, claw horn, and intercellular material. It was concluded that the three main hypothesis (biomechanical stressor, primary laminitic lesion induced by an unknown agent, and parturition induced) could all be valid. There was disagreement on whether research in future should concentrate on applying current knowledge in field trials or concentrate on gaining a greater understanding of the underlying cell biology
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