I work with farms across the country troubleshooting for potential contributors to lameness prevalence in their herd. Cattle lameness is a challenge that every farm will one day experience. It is better to prevent it through procedures such as scheduled maintenance, hoof trimming and overall herd management practices.
Cattle lameness can be present to various degrees on all dairy farms. Unfortunately, it is a part of modern production and can be caused by multiple factors. We have larger farms with increased walking distances over hard concrete floors and bigger pens with more cows, which can all result in increased lameness. These conditions and factors will increase susceptibility to noninfectious lesions and can also lead to infectious lesions such as foot rot or digital dermatitis (DD). While this can be seasonal in nature, both are often still present year-round.
Many factors lead to lameness
Lameness steals your time, productivity and profitability. Furthermore, high-performance herds cannot meet their full potential if they are constantly battling hoof health issues. Again, there are likely multiple components contributing to lameness problems on a farm.
Overall cow comfort plays a large role in the equation. For example, when pens are overcrowded, stall availability becomes limited, and if the stall bedding is inadequate or dirty, the cows will not lay down to rest. Increased standing times, whether in the barn or at the holding pen, will certainly lead to lameness.
Flooring conditions are another key contributing factor to lameness. With worn-out or improperly grooved floors, there can be traction issues causing cows to slip or fall, risking hoof trauma or upper leg injuries. With procedures such as timely maintenance and hoof trimming, lameness can be mitigated.
The importance of hoof trimming
Scheduled hoof trimming programs are key to minimizing and preventing lameness. I recommend, at the very minimum, a dry-off trim. However, as we think about preventative hoof maintenance, it would be beneficial to include a midlactation chute visit anywhere between 120 and 160 days in milk. Not all animals may require much trimming at this time, but it is a good check-up interval.
Beyond executing hoof trimming at the right time, proper training and basic foot health knowledge are paramount to ensuring trimmers are competent and skilled enough to complete the procedure correctly. Training employees on proper trimming techniques should make a difference in preventing lameness from negatively impacting your herd and in helping lame animals recover quickly.
There is a comprehensive program that helps us assess lameness on-farm. Through the assessment, we can identify the main issues and troubleshoot solutions to help solve the root cause of these challenges. For me, the hoof trimming area is one I frequently receive requests to assist with and help improve.
Most of the opportunities I’m involved with on farms involve working with Latino employees. My hoof trimmer trainings are specific, and I’m able to engage with groups in Spanish. These sessions are typically split between classroom and chuteside time, in order to provide both educational and practical, hands-on experience. In the classroom, we introduce some of the technical aspects of trimming. While at the chute, there is a live demonstration with the end goal of employees themselves being able to trim feet.
Prevention is key
With a proper hoof health program and protocols, sound emphasis on management practices and a complete nutrition program, farms can significantly reduce lameness prevalence in their herd. Performance trace minerals in diets play a key role in helping prevent lameness in dairy cows and, ultimately, positively influence your dairy operation’s bottom line.
I encourage you to work with your management and nutrition team to implement a comprehensive lameness prevention program to improve hoof health, cow comfort, herd productivity and operational efficiency.
