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Nutritional and environmental effects on cellular and molecular biology of lameness in dairy heifers

Reference	D10420
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Hugh Galbraith
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Christopher Knight, Dr Colin Wilde
Institution	University of Aberdeen
Department	Agriculture and Forestry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	342,955
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/10/1998
End date	01/08/2002
Duration	46 months

Abstract

Lameness is a common, painful and economically significant affliction of dairy cattle. It has been well characterised epidemiologically but not biologically. Greatest prevalence is in winter-calved early lactation cows; environment, nutrition and physiological state are all recognised risk factors. We have recently shown that the underlying cellular biology of the hoof is impaired in winter relative to summer and we have preliminary evidence that the hoof growth can be improved by nutritional supplementation with methionine. We now propose to conduct detailed in vivo and in vitro experiments to examine effects of nutrition and photoperiod on hoof tissue morphology, cell proliferation, keratinisation, apoptosis and structural integrity. If successful, the treatments could subsequently be incorporated into intervention studies.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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