Hoof Hardness in Dairy Cows

The degree of hardness of your dairy cow’s hooves may influence the chances for injury or for claw disease. Continual exposure of claws to moisture will make their overall constitution soft. This relationship between claw hardness and hoof lesions indicates that dairy cattle with softer claws are at a greater risk for lameness.

Lesions in the claw are the most common visible pathology associated with lameness in the dairy cow. The quality of the cow’s hooves, especially their hardness, will influence the likelihood that the cow will suffer from hoof lesions. Although it is known that various factors including nutrition and genetics will affect claw quality, the environment in which the cow is housed is extremely important, and often overlooked.

Environmental effects on hoof quality include those caused by seasonal changes, types of walking surfaces, and the wetness of the claw. The resistance of the horn of the claw to environmental effects more than likely depends on the hardness of the claw. This is because claw hardness is the major influence of horn wear and erosion.

Prolonged exposure of the claw to water will reduces hardness of the horn of the claw making it more susceptible to disease. It is known that the water content of the horn of the claw is related negatively to its overall hardness. Dairy cattle housed on slatted flooring, which reduces exposure of the hoof to standing water, tend to have much harder, healthier, hooves.

Many dairymen believe, and rightly so, that this relationship puts their cows with wet claws at a higher risk of hoof lesions because the horn resistance is diminished.

The claw of the dairy cow absorbs water quickly when soaked. As the water is absorbed the claw becomes progressively softer, and this accelerates if the hoof is not allowed to dry out. Research shows that the claw absorbs water faster than it dries out. Regions of the claw also differ in hardness, the walls of the claw are the hardest, and the sole is the softest. Regardless, all aspects of the claw absorb water and become softer compromising the dairy cow’s ability to ward off hoof disease.

To reduce the chance of hoof/claw injuries, dairy cattle should be kept in conditions which allow their claws to stay as dry as possible.

The Benefits Of Claw Care

While on a hike, you begin to notice a slight irritation and pain coming from one of your feet. You keep walking and the irritation gradually becomes worse. Eventually you are forced to stop and remove a pebble which has worked its way into your boot. Nothing else matters until you remove the rock and make the pain stop.

What you have experienced, in a very minor way, is the significant pain and production disruption which lameness can have on one of your milking cows. At some point, all dairy herds will have their production rates decline due to lameness. Dairy cattle with sore feet can result in loss of income, vet fees, medication, and involuntary culling. A Cornell University study indicated that the average incidence of lameness per one hundred dairy cattle to be thirty. The study estimated that this translates to roughly nine thousand dollars per one hundred cows. However, you can dramatically reduce the impact of hoof problems in your herd. There are three types of causes: infectious, metabolic, and environmental.

Infectious causes include foot rot, interdigital dermatitis, and digital dermatitis.

Foot rot is typically associated with wet, dirty conditions, and rough surfaces. You can prevent or minimize foot rot by keeping your cows clean, dry, and well bedded. Maintenance trimming is also a must. Usually antibiotics will clear up this condition.

Interdigital dermatitis responds poorly to antibiotics. This disease occurs in early lactation. It is probably due to the associated stresses of calving, and the changes in the weight distribution pattern on the claws of the rear legs following calving. Dairy cattle with this disease will be noticeably lame and may have a white to gray discharge leaking from the affected region. Blocking, trimming, topical dressings, and foot wraps will help.

Digital dermatitis is easily recognized as a reddened patch located just above the cleft of the hoof. The disease causes a sore which resembles a strawberry. The lesion will progress until it has raised, conical like projections featuring black hair like growths (hairy wart stage). This disease is extremely painful to the dairy cow. The treatment is a long and consistent process. As with all hoof disease, the main key in prevention is consistent hoof maintenance trimming and accurate record keeping. And to lessen the recovery time of your cow, and make her more comfortable, you should always block up the affected hoof at the first sign of a problem.

Just as that pebble in your hiking boot irritates you until it is removed, hoof problems create production problems with your dairy herd. Keeping their hooves sound is another link in the chain of efficient milk production.

Nutrition Management in Dairy Cattle

The majority of hoof problems in the bovine species affect dairy cows. Proper nutrition management can lower the number of hoof problems in your dairy herd. Laminitis often is a result of a wide range of factors which include metabolic and digestive disorders; stress associated with parturition; mastitis; mertritis; hard or poorly bedded stalls; too little exercise; excessive body weight; and poor nutritional management.

It is generally accepted that the primary cause of laminitis in the dairy cow is rumen acidosis. Acidosis results either from a diet that contains too much starch or one that does not contain enough fiber. Starch in the rumen is broken down and produces lactic acid. When acidosis occurs, the level of lactic acid exceeds the capacity of the rumen microbes to metabolize it. The increase in acidity can kill populations of rumen microbes and this is thought to release toxins which are responsible for changes in the hoof. Since diet is a key trigger in laminitis, changing a cow’s ration is going to be necessary if the cow develops laminitis.

All cattle should have rations balanced for calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins. In particular, the addition of vitamins A and D to the dairy cow ration is essential for good bone and tissue health. Other helpful nutrient supplementation can come from zinc, copper, molybdenum, manganese, vitamin E, and biotin.

Nutrition plays a significant role in hoof disorders, and changes in the normal pattern of ruminal fermentation tremendously influence hoof health. Feed a total mixed ration (TMR) to regulate concentrate-to-forage ratio. Closely observe changes in forage moisture content and modify rations accordingly.

Successful feeding programs will maximize feed intake, minimize acidosis, while maximizing energy intake during lactation. This will allow for superior milk production and a decrease in diet caused laminitis in your dairy herd.

Thrush in Dairy Cattle

Thrush in dairy cattle is caused by the bacteria Fusobacterium necophorum, and is shed into the dairy environment by feces. It is most often seen in confinement cattle. These anaerobic bacteria thrive in manure and damp, warm conditions. thrush is characterized by a variety of symptoms. The cow will more than likely exhibit some degree of lameness and discomfort. Other symptoms to be on the lookout for include a foul smelling discharge, red inflamed tissue above the hoof, and possible swelling of the affected hooves with spreading of the toes. There may also be necrotic lesions between the claws.

The common treatment for thrush or hoof rot in dairy cattle consists of a cycle of systemic antibiotics that will not interfere with the milking process and that will not force a milk withdrawal time. As with any hoof problem in your dairy herd, a cow infected with thrush should be blocked up, if possible, off of the affected hoof to allow healing and to minimize lameness so the cow can still produce. After you or your farrier have blocked up the afflicted cow she should be housed in a dry, clean environment to promote healing.

Reducing thrush in your dairy herd can be accomplished by housing your cattle in dry, manure free pens that are free of debris. Other recognized preventative measures include footbaths, feed additives, and vaccinations. Contributing factors which can lead to thrush include stubble fields, small rocks, abrasive surfaces, and high temperatures with high humidity. Isolating your infected cattle may reduce the spread of the causing bacteria into the barn environment.

If you have had any experience with thrush in your dairy herd please post your comments here.

Foot Warts in Dairy Cattle

Dairy cattle are often affected by a condition known as Digital Dermatitis or more commonly Foot Wart. It is an infection which produces inflamed red lesions on the interdigital skin of the hoof, typically on the bottom of the pastern on the rear feet, and may have hairs matted around the edges to form a rim. This extremely painful disease can occasionally be seen in the front hooves also. Dairy cows may try to stand up on their "tip toes" to try to relieve the constant pain of the weight on their heels. This condition is bacteria driven (Tremponema). Digital dermatitis is a disease associated with infection, however predisposing factors are unknown and the incidence has been increasing. If you have to replace dairy cattle it is important to thoroughly inspect the feet of the new cows. If the condition is present treatment should begin immediately with the infected cows placed in quarantine. Unfortunately, these bacteria thrive in the dairy environment. In particular the damp and often muddy barn aisles, and in manure build up on the skin of the hooves. When foot warts are observed during maintenance trimming the best course of treatment is with an antibiotic footbath or with a topical spray. Topical sprays are the least expensive and can be applied directly to the affected hoof. Antibiotics such as oxytetracycline or lincomycin are the preferred drug of many dairy veterinarians. If the foot warts have progressed to the point where more aggressive treatment is going to be necessary, it is always best to block up the affected hoof to keep the area from being further aggravated. If it does become necessary to block up the hoof, a bandage can be applied soaked in Rotational Zinc or Hoofpro at a 1:1 concentration.

Help Prevent Hoof Lameness - Start with your Hoof Trimmer

The purpose of maintenance hoof trimming is to eliminate lameness in your dairy herd by preventing disease from beginning. Regular hoof maintenance will also aid in discovering existing problems before they get out of hand, i.e. laminitis, abscesses, hairy hoof wart, digital dermatitis, and white line disease. Maintenance trimming corrects the toe length and toe angle of the claw. This keeps a steady balance and weight distribution between the claws ensuring a comfortable stance for your dairy cow while she is in production. Remember, a healthy comfortable dairy cow is a superior producer.