Osteochondrosis in feedlot cattle

Beginning in summer 1977 and continuing through four consecutive seasons, we examined lame limb joints from 106 partially fattened cattle and 28,235 pairs of occipital condyles from fully fattened cattle for osteochondrosis. Of the 106 lame cattle, nine (8.5%) had characteristic lesions, usually in their stifle joints, and of the 28,235 atlanto-occipital joints, 1063 (3.8%) had lesions on their condyles. Slices of affected articular cartilage and subjacent bone were studied radiographically and histologically. Radiographs showed subchondral defects and epiphyseal "cyst-like" lesions, and histologic sections showed disarrayed and degenerated chondrocytes. Splits occurred along osteochondral junctions or in adjacent cartilage or bone. Some bone trabeculae had been replaced by fibrous tissue that, in some areas, extended deep into epiphyses.