Association of distal extremity thermographic temperatures with lameness in cattle

Early diagnosis of foot diseases with lameness in cattle farms contributes to animal welfare and economy. Since early diagnosis of foot diseases characterized by lameness is very important, this study aimed to compare lameness scores and thermal temperatures in cattle. While lameness scoring was performed in ten cows (3-5 years old), thermal temperatures were measured from 280 points (right and left limbs) in the foot regions. Before lameness scoring, the gait of the cows was video recorded. Then, the recordings were watched and scored by two observers. Animals were taken to a shaded area for thermographic examination, and thermal records were kept. The temperature values obtained from the thermal camera represent the highest temperature in the anatomical regions. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) through a bivariate linear regression model was used to investigate the relationship between lameness score and hoof temperature. In addition, the correlation between different anatomical regions was also analyzed. The analysis revealed no significant correlation between the lameness score and any specific region on the hoof or limb. However, significant correlations were found between anatomical areas. According to the data obtained from the Forelimb, the dorsal surface of the lateral hoof (R1) had a high correlation with the dorsal surface of the interdigital area (R5). Similarly, a high correlation was found between the dorsal surface of the medial hoof (R3) and the posterior surface of the interdigital area (R7). In the data obtained from the Hindlimb, two regions were identified where the dorsal surface of the lateral hoof (R2) had a high correlation: the dorsal surface of the medial hoof (R4) and the dorsal surface of the interdigital area (R6). In conclusion, if thermography detects temperature increases before illnesses occur, appropriate measures can be taken. According to the study's findings, it was determined that thermography could be a guide in methods such as lameness scoring and can play an effective role in taking precautions in preventive medicine.