Many problems go unnoticed during the earliest stages, and this can significantly impact your bottom line. So what can farmers do about lameness in their herd?
Lameness in dairy cows is more than just an animal welfare problem. It also affects on-farm productivity and can damage economic returns.
Lameness is the third-biggest cause of economic loss in dairy farming, behind reproduction and mastitis. With today's heavier milking breeds and longer walking distances to the shed, vets are seeing to more dairy cows every year due to lameness issues.
Common causes
The most common claw problems are associated with white line disease, sole injuries, and footrot. Increased problems also commonly occur during calving, when there is excessive wear of the sole, and in wet seasons when the sole is soft.
Standing on concrete pads for long periods can cause excess wear, and walking long distances can cause incidences of lameness due to stone bruising and other factors.
Some measures farmers can take to prevent hoof problems in cattle
Keep your races to a good standard, free from mud, sharp or abrasive gravel and wide, to allow ample room for the size of your herd so cows don't bunch up.
Ensure farm workers don't move the cows too quickly. This can cause them to bunch together and walk with their heads up, therefore shortening their strides and increasing risk of lameness. This also means cows don't watch where their feet are going and increases the risk of slipping or damage.
When should I call the vet and is there anything I can do to prevent hoof problems worsening?
Not every case is related to the hoof, so it's always best to discuss this with your vet to ensure the best treatment for the animal.
Prevention of hoof problems is the key - hoof mats and baths can help with this. Mats reduce the amount of treatment solution needed and there is no splashing. Cows are also less wary of mats than baths.
There are several different ways to treat hooves, depending on the severity. The earlier the treatment, the cheaper the application and the lower the impact on the output of the cow. Walkease EVA hoof blocks allow the earliest of treatments. Walkease is particularly useful when a farmer notices the first signs of lameness. Walkease hoof blocks will take weight off the injury claw and enable faster healing due to increased mobility and function. The hoof blocks are soft, and easily applied in minutes. They naturally wear down after 10-14 days of use, so you don't have the issue of a bulky hoof block coming off and blocking up your systems.
Shoof's hoof care range is available from your local Farm Source store.
Article supplied by Shoof International.