Lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in dairy cattle in Oum El Bouaghi and Khenchela, Northeast Algeria

A cross-sectional study was conducted over three years, from December 2018 to August 2020, to evaluate lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in 1,154 cattle (167 lame, 987 non-lame), across 40 cattle farms in Khenchela and Oum El Bouaghi provinces, Northeastern Algeria. Data were collected on body condition score (BCS), sex, breed, parity, stage of lactation, farm size, production system, hygiene conditions, bedding quantity, flooring type, ventilation, and feed type. The overall lameness prevalence was 14.5%, with significant regional variation: 19.4% (97/500) in Oum El Bouaghi and 10.7% (70/654) in Khenchela (P<0.001). Almost all cattle with lameness lesions had a single lesion (92.8%). Predominant claw lesions included diffuse sole haemorrhage (19.8%), heel horn erosion (18%), digital dermatitis (12.6%), and interdigital phlegmon (8.4%). Hind-limb involvement was predominant (88%), with most pathologies (97% localised to the distal limb). Animal-specific risk factors included breed (Prim'Holstein: 71.3%), body condition score (lean cows: 55.1%), parity (multiparous cows in third lactation: 39%), and lactation stage (mid-lactation: 53.7%). Farm management and environmental risk factors comprised production system (intensive: 82.6%), inadequate hygiene protocols (43.7%), concrete flooring (94.6%), and high-concentrate rations (78.4%). In univariate logistic regression analysis, significant risk factors included poor body condition (BCS<2.5: OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.4–5.0, P<0.001), Holstein breed (OR=5.1, 95% CI: 2.79.6, P<0.001), poor hygiene conditions (OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.8–4.5, P<0.001), and small farm size (OR=1.5, 95% CI: 1.1–2.1, P=0.023). Female cattle showed significantly higher odds of lameness (OR=5.9, 95% CI: 1.8–18.8, P=0.003). Management practices emphasised curative corrective trimming (58.7%) over preventive interventions, with limited utilisation of systemic and topical medications. These findings elucidate the multifactorial etiology of bovine lameness in the region and underscore the need for comprehensive prevention strategies that target improved husbandry practices, balanced nutrition, and early intervention protocols.