The Risk Factors of Dewclaw Dermatitis in Beef Cattle in the Amazon Biome

TL;DR

This study identifies risk factors for dewclaw dermatitis in beef cattle in the Amazon, including poor pasture conditions and management practices.

Contribution

This is the first study to investigate BDCD in extensive beef cattle systems in the Amazon Biome.

Findings

BDCD was found in 6.94% of the 706 cattle inspected across eight farms.

Pastures with stumps and stones, poor pen structures, and trauma during management are key risk factors for BDCD.

Crossbred cattle were more affected by BDCD than pure Nellore cattle.

Abstract

Beef cattle farming is an extremely important economic activity in Brazil, mainly in the northern region. Bovine hoof disorders impair the beef production chain; however, there are few studies on the subject, especially on the incidence of Bovine Dewclaw Dermatitis (BDCD). Thus, this is a pioneering investigative study to highlight the main factors predisposing animals to BDCD in beef cattle herds in the Amazon Biome. This study shows that risk factors related to climate, pasture conditions, and the physical structure of bovine management facilities are directly linked to BDCD onset in herds, affecting the beef production sector.

Bovine Dewclaw Dermatitis (BDCD) is a hoof disease characterized by inflammation of the second and fifth accessory digits and the skin in this region. This pathology is poorly described in the literature; however, it has recently been observed in beef cattle in the Amazon Biome, Brazil. The objective of this study was to perform a clinical diagnosis and identify the risk factors associated with BDCD onset in cattle in the studied biome. Samples were collected from eight farms with extensive breeding systems located in Xinguara, Rondon do Pará, Curionópolis, and Ipixuna do Pará in the state of Pará, Brazil. A total of 706 Nellore and Nellore crossbred with taurine bovine of both sexes were evaluated, with males aged between 2 and 4 years and a mean weight of 650 kg, and females aged between 2 and 11 years and a mean weight of 400 kg. Distal extremities were inspected during cattle management, and in cases of dewclaw lesions, a specific examination was carried out after proper restraint. Cattle were diagnosed with BDCD on all farms analyzed. Of the 706 cattle inspected, 49 (6.94%) showed BDCD, of which 19 (38.77%) were Nellore and 30 (61.22%) were crossbred. This was the first study to determine BDCD’s occurrence in extensive farming systems in the Amazon region, also showing that pastures with large amounts of stumps and stones, the physical structure of pens, and trauma and injury incidence during animal management are the most important predisposing factors for the onset of BDCD.

Figures