Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #317450

Title: ICAR claw health atlas

Author
item EGGER-DANNER, CHRISTA - Collaborator
item NIELSEN, PIA - Collaborator
item FIEDLER, ANDREA - Collaborator
item MULLER, KERSTIN - Freie University
item FJELDAAS, TERJE - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences
item DOPFER, DORTE - University Of Wisconsin
item DANIEL, VICTOR - Collaborator
item BERGSTEN, CHRISTER - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences
item CRAMER, GERARD - University Of Minnesota
item CHRISTEN, ANNE-MARIE - Collaborator
item STOCK, KATHRIN - Collaborator
item THOMAS, GILLES - Collaborator
item HOLZHAUER, MENNO - Animal Health Service
item STEINER, ADRIAN - University Of Bern
item CLARKE, JONATHAN - Collaborator
item CAPION, NYNNE - University Of Copenhagen
item CHARFEDDINE, NOUREDDINE - Collaborator
item PRYCE, JENNIE - Department Of Environment And Primary Industries
item OAKES, ERIKA - Collaborator
item BURGSTALLER, JOHANN - University Of Veterinary Medicine
item HERINGSTAD, BJORG - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences
item ODEGÅRD, CECILIE - Collaborator
item KOFLER, JOHANN - University Of Veterinary Medicine
item EGGER, FRANZISKA - Collaborator
item Cole, John

Submitted to: International Committee on Animal Recording(ICAR)
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2015
Publication Date: 6/10/2015
Citation: Egger-Danner, C., Nielsen, P., Fiedler, A., Muller, K., Fjeldaas, T., Dopfer, D., Daniel, V., Bergsten, C., Cramer, G., Christen, A., Stock, K., Thomas, G., Holzhauer, M., Steiner, A., Clarke, J., Capion, N., Charfeddine, N., Pryce, J., Oakes, E., Burgstaller, J., Heringstad, B., Odegård, C., Kofler, J., Egger, F., Cole, J.B. 2015. ICAR claw health atlas. International Committee on Animal Recording(ICAR). ICAR Claw Health Atlas. ICAR Technical Series 18. ICAR, Rome, Italy.

Interpretive Summary: The ICAR Claw Health Atlas provides standardized textual and photographic descriptions of common claw health problems in dairy cattle. These standards will support the routine collection of claw health data for use in genetic improvement and health monitoring programs around the world. Dairy cow health and welfare will be improved by reductions in the incidence and severity of foot problems.

Technical Abstract: Awareness of the importance of a properly functioning locomotor system to bovine health and welfare has increased around the world. Several countries have recently introduced electronic systems to routinely record foot and claw disorders in dairy cattle and many more countries are developing plans or have committed to begin recording in the near future. This motivated the ICAR working group for functional traits to prioritize foot and claw health and to work with internationally recognized claw experts to develop best practices for data recording. This collaboration is intended to complement existing research on specific aspects of the claws and feet of dairy cattle, focusing solely on the standardization and harmonization of data recording. The harmonized descriptions are the result of fruitful interdisciplinary collaboration among many experts with varying backgrounds (claw health experts, hoof trimmers, bovine practitioners, geneticists), ensuring comprehensive coverage of theoretical and applied needs. It is designed to provide a tool for practitioners and hoof trimmers and presents guidelines for the recording of important conditions affecting the claw health of cattle. Descriptive trait definitions are used to ensure that accurate classifications are made, which will support the collection of comparable and high-quality data within and across countries to support many activities (e.g., genetic evaluation purposes). The authors and contributors to the ICAR Claw Health Atlas hope that the compiled material will support the improved recording of foot and claw disorders and provide a valuable tool for improving the health and welfare of dairy cattle.