The incidence and distribution of radiographic changes in digital region of stud bulls without lameness

Joint disease has a high correlation with bull reproductive failure at semen collection centers or in natural breeding programs. The majority of changes involve the digital region, with various etiologies and pathomorphologies. An X-ray examination is often indicated, but has not become a routine procedure in bovine practice. The aim of our research was to determine radiographically visible changes in the digital region and determine their anatomical distribution in stud bulls that do not show clinical signs of lameness. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo radiographic study of the digital region in Simmental stud bulls. The study included 30 adult Simmental stud bulls in breeding condition. Five (16.66%) bulls had no changes on their digits, and 25 (83.33%) had different groups of changes on their digits. The anatomical site of occurrence and the frequency of pathological changes on each individual digit were determined. In 76% of bulls, changes are visible on both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. Mostly radiographic findings of changes in the digital region in stud bulls without clinical signs of the disease correspond to chronic degenerative changes in their bones and joints, but they do not have any significant influence on the health status or semen production of stud bulls. However, the distribution of radiographic findings in these stud bulls does not correspond with the previously described distribution in other categories of cattle.