Southern SOIL Photo credit: Mike Suarez/A Greener World.
BEST HOOF FORWARD
Anna Heaton looks at common factors for lameness in cattle — and options for prevention
Lameness in cattle can be defined as an abnormality that causes the animal to change the way it walks. Lameness is not a single disease, but a symptom of multiple conditions. It is not only painful for the affected animal, but has been shown to reduce production, appetite and fertility. A lame animal is not only in a state of pain and poor welfare: it is having an impact on your farm’s bottom line. Factors affecting lameness Lameness can be caused by infections, as well as environmental, animal or management factors. Reducing the risk of lameness requires an understanding of the factors present on your farm. The type of system cattle are kept in is key. Research shows that cows in pasture-based systems experience lower levels of lameness than cows kept in housed systems. Similarly, cows housed in straw yards have lower levels of lameness than those on slats. This “stands” to reason: consider the difference in standing on unyielding concrete versus walking on grass and soil, and how much your own feet hurt if you have to spend a day pounding the sidewalks in town. Managing your cows according to Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW standards will significantly reduce the risk of cows getting lame. But that doesn’t mean you should stop thinking about lameness and ways you can keep your animals’ feet and legs healthy. Other factors include breed and genetic characteristics. Research shows certain breeds are more (or less) susceptible to lameness. For example, Jersey cattle tend to have harder feet and suffer less from lameness, while Holstein Friesian cows generally experience more lameness problems than other breeds. Research also suggests that lighter animals are less prone to lameness, although one study found Guernsey cows more susceptible to white line disease. A range of management factors can impact lameness. The more time cows spend standing, the greater the risk, so both the size of the herd and the space available can be key factors. When it comes to space, it is not just the total area or number of free stalls, but whether animals that are less dominant can get away from others. There is evidence that lower
