Nearly every dairy in the US has an issue with digital dermatitis at one point or another. What are you doing to control it? With winter right around the corner, you will have a real headache on your hands if you don’t have your hoof care under control. Dropping temperatures and increased precipitation can wreak havoc on your herd […]
We all know that routine checks and hoof trimming can help to prevent lameness on your dairy. We recently sat down with Chip Hendrickson, our hoof care expert, to ask him some important questions on hoof trimming and timing. How often should I be trimming my herd? There is a significant difference between hoof-checking your herd and hoof-trimming your […]
Footbaths are an essential part of your hoof care routine to prevent lameness and disease. It is important to use footbaths for the prevention AND treatment of hoof problems. Far too often, we see dairymen initiate a footbath routine only after an outbreak has occurred. If implemented properly, a consistent footbath routine will be one of the best things […]
Building a new barn can be an exciting experience. However, don’t overlook the importance of hoof health in design and materials. Poor stall design can increase the amount of standing time for the cow, leading to an increase in the risk of lameness or hoof problems. Stall surface options, such as sand or mattress beds, are another […]
A lame cow is an economic liability on a dairy farm. On a 500-cow dairy with a lameness incidence rate of 20% and a per-cow cost of $90, lameness can cost a dairy operation $9,000 a year. A Wisconsin study estimated the total cost of a lame dairy cow to be as high as $300 per case. […]
Limiting the spread and severity of digital dermatitis is a common concern for dairy producers. Digital dermatitis — also known as hairy heel warts or foot rot — typically affects confined dairy cows. Young animals and cows that have calved recently have been shown to be particularly vulnerable.1 The disease is also emerging in beef […]
