Combat lameness before it hits your pocket

When there’s lameness in a dairy herd the impact on animal welfare, productivity and economic return can be crippling. Studies in New Zealand suggest that on average, 26 percent of cows in large herds have some form of lameness in a year.

Lameness is estimated to cost $400$500 per cow per season, which can really add up. A 400-cow dairy farm with 10 percent of cows lame in a season would cost the farm $20,000. On a 1000-cow farm, direct and indirect costs could be more than $100,000 at average lameness rates. Given this, prevention, early identification and treatment can not only improve animal health and well-being but greatly benefit your business by reducing the cost of lameness. Spring and mating are when most lameness occurs in our dairy herds so now is the time to be thinking about your hoofcare management programme.

Prevention

How you manage your herd helps protect against lameness. Cows should walk at their own pace through welldesigned races. Nutrition also plays a part in hoof health, as does using hoof mats or foot baths at the entrance to the dairy shed to apply key minerals. Hoof claws should be trimmed regularly and before they can cause any problems.

Treatment

The best way to aid recovery will depend on the injury itself and the time the cow will take to recover. In all cases, remove pressure from the affected claw by applying a block or shoe to the healthy claw. For early intervention, use a short-term blocking system such as Walkease (from $8 per cow). This will last 1-2 weeks and provide relief for fast-curing injuries. For medium-term recovery, use a 2 to 4-week blocking system with longerwearing wooden blocks. The BoviBond and Septicare adhesive systems (from $14 per cow) are ideal. Where recovery will take 4 weeks or more and require sidewall support, use a low-profile shoe such as Hoofers ($33 per cow), applied to the healthy claw, to reduce the impact on the foot. You may need to remove the shoe once the claw has recovered Don’t let lameness hit you in the pocket this spring. Proactive management is the key to reducing the financial impact of lameness and enhancing the wellbeing of your animals. Visit the DairyNZ lameness calculator (www. dairynz.co.nz/animal/cow-health/ lameness/lameness-cost-calculator) to work out the cost to your business.

| A good hoof-management plan could save you thousands this spring.

HOOFCARE ESSENTIALS

• Sharp hoof knives. • Knife sharpener. • Hoof trimmer, single or double action.

• Hoof rasp. • Vet rope. • Blocking systems for short, medium and longer term use.

Using the right product will keep the cost of treatment down.

• Hoof mats/footbaths.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Window of opportunity for cherry growers.

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