An outbreak of lameness in a dairy herd is usually blamed on rain and muddy tracks. Often more lame cows do show up when it is wet but most of these cows already had damaged feet and the wetness is just what tipped them over the edge. Cows that are not being pressured, with strong, healthy feet, are unlikely to become lame when it rains.
Not all lameness's are the same. A limping cow usually has a painful foot but there are a number of different problems or injuries that may have led to that pain. Knowing the main type of lameness that occurs on a farm can give valuable clues as to why there is a lameness problem.
White line disease is the main type of lameness seen on New Zealand dairy farms. This occurs when weakening of the white line (the seam joining the wall and sole) leads to mud and stones driving up and causing an infection. White line disease is caused by pressure and poor cow flow leading to twisting and turning of the feet on concrete. The pressure may come from cows being pushed too hard on the tracks, incorrect use of the backing gate, narrow tracks, and not enough space in the yards. Additional pressure is often applied to overcome poor cow flow but usually this makes the problem worse rather than better.
Sole punctures and bruising are often caused by similar factors on a farm. If cattle have plenty of room and are allowed to move at their own pace, bruising and sole punctures should be minimal. Cattle look to see where to place their front feet to avoid stones, holes and other hazards and then their back feet follow through to where the front foot was. If the cows are squashed up tight (you will see their heads coming up) then they cannot see where to place their feet and are more likely to stand on sharp stones. Bruising and sole punctures also occur where hard stones are tracked onto concrete. Cattle with soles worn thin from walking long distances are also more at risk of bruising/penetration.
Footrot is caused by a bacterial infection of the soft tissues between the claws. Damage to the skin between the claws or softening from wet conditions allows bacteria present in the environment to enter and cause swelling above the hoof, cracking of the interdigital skin and pus formation. This is generally the only type of foot lameness that needs to be treated with antibiotics. If the cows have to walk through muddy, poorly drained areas or if there are a lot of loose, sharp stones causing damage between the claws, then a footrot problem may arise. It is uncommon for a dairy farm to have a major footrot problem. Make sure you are treating the right condition. Antibiotics given to cows with white line disease, bruising, sole penetration or interdigital lesions generally do less than appropriate trimming.
The above conditions are the main causes of lameness in dairy cattle. Other problems do occur but they are usually isolated cases.
The weather and poor tracks are the most common things blamed for causing lame cows. However, there are often many more things going on that are contributing to the lameness problem. Totally Vets Healthy Hoof programme providers are trained to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the lameness risk factors on your farm. If you would like to work with a Healthy Hoof provider to reduce lameness in your herd, please contact Totally Vets.
