AVA Conference Adelaide 2016

Lameness is admittedly one of the most important cause of poor welfare in ruminants. For adequate management of lameness in a herd several issues should be address. First of all a validated grading scale should be used. Traditionally numerical rating scales (NRS) have been used but are associated with a reduced sensitivity to capture variations in lower levels of lameness. On the contrary visual analogue scales (VAS) are more sensitive although perhaps more subjective. By using these scales on farm it is possible to efficiently monitor the prevalence and evolution of lameness in a flock and to calculate its welfare and economic impact. Although the physiopathology of small ruminants foot diseases are generally well know, there is still a lack of knowledge on the effect of lameness on other structures such as joints and on the degree of pain present. We have conducted several studies on claw overgrowth and deformation and on the role these conditions can have on the incidence of other diseases such as pregnancy toxaemia. Other studies have looked at ways to recognize and score pain in sheep affected by foot rot. For example, facial expression has proven to be a reliable and easy way to recognize animals in pain