Identifying lameness early is essential for a quick recovery and optimal milk production.
Proper hoof care is crucial for maintaining healthy and productive dairy cows. By implementing best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of lameness. Identifying lameness early is also key to a quick recovery and optimal milk production.
Establish a hoof treatment routine to prevent hoof infections. Regular treatment with zinc or copper sulphate helps to disinfect and harden hoof horn, which promotes stronger, healthier hooves and can help prevent transmission of ailments. Use solution in cost efficient and effective HoofMats or footbaths to enhance resilience, and resist disease. Prioritising hoof care sets a strong baseline for cow health, reducing costs, and improving herd longevity and productivity.
Conduct regular hoof inspections to detect early signs of hoof problems. Look for any uneven wear, swelling, redness, heat, lesions, cracks, or abnormalities and pay attention to any discharge, odours, or overgrown or broken hooves. By addressing any issues, you can provide timely treatment, reduce the risk of complications, and ensure a smoother transition into lactation.
A well-balanced and functional trim relieves any bruised areas, identifies underlying problems, and allows ample time for treatment. Consider scheduling a veterinarian or hoof trimmer to trim cow hooves. This trim is particularly important as it addresses any existing hoof issues, relieves any bruising, and prevents further damage. By starting with well-maintained hooves, you lay the groundwork for healthy hoof growth and function during lactation.
If any hoof lesions or injuries are identified, consider using blocks as an early intervention tool or remediate severe lameness with long term blocking systems. Blocking helps to relieve pressure and pain on the affected area, allowing for proper healing and preventing additional damage. By using blocks, you provide the necessary support and care for hooves that require extra attention.
Situation: Minor sole bruising, mild foot rot, small hoof cracks or chips. Treat and elevate the affected claw to allow it to heal.
Product solution: Walkease, Repiderma (AB Free).
Duration of wear: 7-21 days.
Situation: Moderate foot rot, moderate ulcers (sole, toe or heel), hoof cracks, abscesses, white line disease (with hoof wall separation). Treat and elevate the affected claw to allow it to heal for a longer time.
Product solution: Bovi-Bond and Softwood/Hardwood or Rubber Block.
Duration of wear: 21-28 days.
Situation: Chronic laminitis, severe foot rot, deep or chronic ulcers, white line disease (with significant hoof wall separation), deep-seated abscesses, severe hoof cracks, inflamed coffin bone, claw deformities, thin soles. Treat and elevate using a hard wearing, long lasting block or hoof cover that treats, elevates and protects.
Product solution: Hoofers and Reuseable Cattle Shoofs.
Duration of wear: 28-42 days.