Enfermidades podais em bovinos de corte criados em regime extensivo no sudeste do Estado do Pará

Abstract

The epidemiological study was conducted in 12 properties with the history of foot diseases occurrence and the clinical examination of the affected animals for the diagnosis of foot diseases was performed only in nine of these properties. It was found on the management centers multiple risk factors for digits injuries, as syringes floors paved with rocks, working chutes with iron fittings exposure, loading ramps covered by sharp stones and the lack of maintenance and structural errors. In every farm there was an inappropriate handling of animals. In 91.7% of farms (11/12) there were pickets with trunks of trees and 66.7% (8/12) had areas of sloping relief with stones. Moreover, 16.7% (2/12) of the farms had marsh areas and wetlands. Sodomy was reported in all properties. None of the farms adopted preventive measures related to foot problems. 498 cattle between males and females were examined. The hind limbs were the most affected both in females and in males. 629 lesions were diagnosed in females. The septic pododermatitis was the most common, followed by claw deformities, pododermatitis in the paradigits and digital dermatitis. Between the examined males 285 injuries were diagnosed and the most common were septic pododermatitis, claw deformities and heel erosion. It was concluded that management errors associated with inadequate facilities were factors that contributed to the occurrence of foot diseases in beef cattle in the studied farms. The environmental characteristics favored the development of lesions; combined injuries were more prevalent than the simple ones, being diagnosed in animals in all studied farms; and the early diagnosis was not carried out in the field, which helped to increase the severity and the diversification of the diagnosed foot problems.