Digital dermatitis (DD) is an infectious disease affecting cattle feet causing ulcerative and necrotic skin lesions. Most lesions are painful when palpated, some cause lameness and significantly impact animal welfare and productivity. Our objectives were: to determine if changes in behaviour were associated with DD in cattle, to quantify pain associated with DD lesions, and to determine the relationship between pain sensitivity and lameness, and DD and lesion temperature. In total, 255 animals across three feedlots were enrolled. A subset of 120 animals were fitted with accelerometers to record behaviour. Cattle were scored for lameness (Step-Up Locomotion Scoring System), both hind feet scored for DD (M-stage scoring system), the pressure pain threshold of lesions determined using pressure algometry and lesion temperature using thermal images. Animals and feet were classified as DD absent or present. Further, DD present was divided into active or chronic. Behaviour, 5 to 2 days before DD identification was analyzed. Animals with DD ruminated 3% less daily compared to animals without DD (P < 0.05). Further, animals with active lesions ruminated 5% less daily (P < 0.05). Daily inactivity time was greater in animals with DD and the effect of day depended on type of lesion (P < 0.05). Feet without DD lesions withstood 5.6N more pressure (P < 0.001). Active lesions were most sensitive withstanding 8.1N less pressure and chronic lesions 4.1N less pressure than DD absent feet (P < 0.05). Moderate to severely lame animals withstood 3.1N less pressure than sound animals (P < 0.001). Median maximum temperature (MMT) was higher in feet with DD compared to those without (P < 0.001) with MMT being highest in active lesions (P < 0.05). In conclusion, rumination is depressed, and inactivity increased in DD affected animals. Both active and chronic lesions are painful, lame animals have a lower pain threshold and DD is associated with higher lesion temperatures.
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