LESIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLINICAL LAMINITIS AND DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHIC EXAM IN HOLSTEIN COWS IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

Abstract Subclinical laminitis has been responsible for economic losses in dairy industry; thus, its diagnostic is very important to prevent negative responses to milk production industry. The aim of this study was to identify lesions associated with subclinical laminitis during the transition period with presence or absence of radiographic signs linked to this disease in Holstein cows. The cows were evaluated during the transition period and categorized into two groups (with and without laminitis) according to the lesions associated with this subclinical disease. The radiological dynamic was performed in two target points during the transition period (prepartum and postpartum), with the objective of determining capsular position possible alterations and third phalanx bone degeneration (F3). There was no effect of the presence of lesions associated with subclinical laminitis regarding the position of the third phalanx to the hoof wall (p>0.05). Significant radiographic angular differences (p<0.05) between F3 and the hoof wall were observed between the lateral and medial nails of the same digit, but not within groups (p>0.05). Overall, this study did not show radiographic signs of phalangeal misalignment in the hoof of dairy cows with lesions associated with subclinical laminitis during the transition period.