White Line Disease

What is it?

White line disease refers to a collection of lesions: hemorrhage, fissure, and abscess, affecting the white line region, typically of the outer claw of the rear feet, two thirds of the way back from the toe.

What causes it?

Risk for white line disease is associated with:
- Increasing age
- Alterations to the structural integrity of the claw (altered suspensory apparatus and fat pad support)
- Alterations to the quality of the horn (role for trace minerals and biotin)
- Exposure to traumatic flooring surfaces
- Exposure to poor handling where cows are forced to stop, start and turn abruptly

How do we treat it?

The lesion is caused by separation of the wall from the sole and underlying tissue.
The treatment is to remove the separated horn and allow new, healthy horn to grow beneath it while transferring weight from the site.

How do we prevent it?

We cannot easily influence the structural integrity of the claw other than through proper feeding.
We can more easily reduce the forces applied to the white line by improved cow handling and improved non-slippery, non-traumatic flooring.
Better Flooring
- Improved traction without increased trauma
  - Improve concrete floors
  - Strategic use of rubber flooring
  - Pasture access
Better Handling
- The worst floor will not cause a white line lesion if we allow cows to walk along it at their own pace
- It is the combination of poor flooring with poor handling that causes white line issues!
- Good handling moves cows to where we want them to be, making it seem like it was their idea!
  - Concepts
    - Positioning
    - Follow the leader
    - Leave from where they came

Better Flooring

Some flooring surfaces are too slippery because grooves are too shallow or too far apart
Some flooring is so rough that it traumatizes the sole
Some floors do not have enough flat stable surface for the cow’s foot to stand on
Slatted floors cause trauma to the claw and elevate the risk for white line lesion development
Grooves close enough together to ensure that each foot falls over a groove when the cow stands to provide grip against the edge of the groove
Grooves deep enough and wide enough, with smooth edges to allow manure to be pushed from beneath the claw into the groove, facilitating contact and traction
Grooves may be floated into new concrete, or cut into existing concrete
The ‘ideal’ groove is: ¾” (2cm) wide groove, ½” (1.3cm) deep, spaced 31/4” (8.25cm) on center
Textured concrete improves traction and maybe used in some areas
Textured concrete improves traction and maybe used in some areas
Diamond shaped grooving improves traction for sloped holding areas, but may also result in excessive hoof wear if done in a large freestall pen
Strategic Use of Rubber Flooring
- Reduced wear
- Greater compressibility and improved traction
- Reduced trauma
Reduced wear and trauma, improved walking comfort

Better Handling

Quiz