Foot disorders in cattle in the western region of Cameroon

This study was carried out from November 2019 to May 2020 in Bangangte, a district in the West of Cameroon, with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of foot disorders in cattle. A total of 412 animals (Gudali (56.55%), Akou (40.78%), Red Fulani (2.43%) and Charolais (0.24%)) were examined. An overall prevalence of 34.47% was obtained. The main conditions encountered were: foot rot (23.06%), scissor nail (4.85%), cracking of the hoof (3.88%), nail asymmetry (2.43%), whitlow (1.7%), Morterallo's disease (0.97%), laminitis (0.49%), nail elongation (0.24%), and ergot elongation (0.24%). Three (3) % had cases of lameness caused mainly by whitlow (50%) and Morterallo's disease (33.3%). Cross-sorting revealed that 9.15% of the animals were affected by two conditions simultaneously, the combination of foot rot and scissor nail. Functional, infectious and metabolic foot disorders had prevalences of 3.88%, 25% and 7.73%, respectively. The risk factors associated with the occurrence of foot disorders were cleanliness, age of animals, soil type, manure disposal, and the type of husbandry system (p < 0.05). Therapeutic managements were general and specific.

Keywords: Cattle, foot disorders, prevalence, lameness, Bangangte, Cameroon