Nutritional influences on laminitis, sole ulcer and bruised sole in Friesian cows

The effect of feeding a low fibre, high starch diet in early lactation on the incidence of laminitis and sole ulcers in Friesian dairy cows was studied. After calving the herd had been divided and fed one of two diets. Cows fed the low fibre, high starch ration had a 68 per cent incidence of clinical laminitis and a 64 per cent incidence of sole ulcers. Cows fed the higher fibre diet had only 8 per cent clinical laminitis and 8 per cent sole ulcers. The implications of these findings are discussed.