HERD MANAGEMENT
Hoof Health: Taking a Fresh Step
H
oof health affects the cow more than you think. If you aren’t trimming at least twice a year, per cow, you can lose up to $185 on a first lactation cow and $333 on a mature cow according to University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Do you regularly trim your cows hooves? What is the importance of trimming, footing, prevention of diseases, and dealing with lameness? Two Ohio hoof trimmers explain the facts. Allen Schlabach, Fredericksburg, Ohio, has been trimming hooves for 33 years. Looking back, it wasn’t his dream job. In fact he had two jobs off the farm in one year and then realized he missed the farm life. A fellow hoof trimmer wanted to sell his business and that is when Schlabach took the reins. “I wanted to create a marketable business while providing excellent service to my customers,” noted Schlabach. Tim Billman, West Salem, Ohio, has been trimming hooves for 23 years. In his mid-20s Billman started trimming as a result of his love for the industry, willingness to work with the animals, and appreciation of the dairy farmer. He trained with another hoof trimmer for a while and also took time to attend educational classes. “One key learning practice is to talk to other trimmers and develop a connection with them,” Billman said.
environment, bedding, stress, are some of the first things thought of. Various factors influence how the cows’ hooves grow. It is essential to keep cows trimmed twice a year to keep up with hoof health. A helpful rotation to hoof trimming is trimming cows at dry off, then again at 100 days in milk, but when should farmers start to trim? Springing heifers is a great age to start trimming. The hoof wall grows at about two inches per year and the normal hoof should be three inches long from the coronary band to the toe. When weight is shifted while the hoof is growing, it could cause that female to go lame. As the cow matures, more weight is put on the outside walls of the rear feet. This is where they have more overgrowth. For hooves with overgrown toes, a heel with an altered structure will be more susceptible to bacterial invasion as it will be in contact with more manure. “If trimming is just a band aid, there will be more problems in the near future,” said Schlabach. When trimming is routine to keep claws in optimal health, the cow will be capable of performing to her potential. Waiting to trim after the onset of lameness is called corrective hoof trimming. Over-trimming can also be destructive to the structure of the hoof as the sensitive tissues could be penetrated below the wall, causing pain.
Importance of Trimming Do you want longevity and production from your cows? Then proper hoof trimming is a must. The importance of trimming is to keep the cow as mobile as possible. “Just like an ill-fitting pair of shoes can cause blisters, sore feet in general make us less productive, same goes for the cows,” Schlabach explained. “Sore feet can cause a cow to lay down soon after milking before her teat end closes sufficiently, therefore higher probability of mastitis. She will spend less time at the feed bunk, less milk, showing poor estrus, longer calving intervals, etc. Her comfort should be a top priority because if she isn’t doing her job, you are losing money.”
Common Hoof Diseases The most common disease Billman has seen is the hairy heel wart. It is a virus that infects the skin and is typically located in the back of the foot, but can also be up front and in between the toes. Hairy warts are contagious and can spread through manure and frequently visited areas by those infected cows. This can cause the cow to lose mobility because of the soreness of the foot which can result in lameness if not treated and other issues regarding her health and milk production. However, there are many other diseases to watch out for. Along with the hairy heel wart being a top contender, Schlabach said the top diseases that have the most dramatic effect on cows are ulcers and abscesses. Ulcers can form from standing too long. An example of this would be overcrowding, standing in headlocks too
When to Trim When it comes to trimming, diseases, MARCH 2022
When a hoof trimmer assesses a cow’s hoof before trimming, they are looking at length and angle of the toe, sole thickness balance, wear pattern on feet, and for anything abnormal.
long, or in the holding pen. Abscesses are more prevalent when cows are slipping and sliding. Examples of this would be chasing cows to catch them, slippery surfaces, especially in winter time, or hot summertime temperatures can cause them to form. With management and determination, these diseases could be prevented and taken care of at the source. When talking about how nutrition is related to hoof health, laminitis is directly related to this topic. Laminitis is an aseptic inflammation of the dermal layers inside the foot that can come in acute, subclinical, and chronic cases. Rumen acidosis has been shown to be a key factor leading to laminitis. Acidosis is caused by the ingestion of greater than normal quantities of ruminally fermentable carbohydrates. Acidosis can cause hemorrhaging in the claw which predisposes her to an abscess. Lameness If hoof health is not a priority on the farm, there will be issues that arise for you and your cattle. Lame cows don’t want to get up and move, therefore feed/water intake will decrease, resulting in lower milk production and reproductive issues. (continued to page 38)
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