Lameness in dairy cattle is a cost of doing business. Either you spend the money to prevent it, or you spend the money treating it. Lameness in dairy cattle is estimated to cost $90 to $300 per case. Chronic lameness issues can add up to hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars over the course of a cow’s productive life. Investing in preventive measures and daily care pays off in the long run. 

People go to the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, but we brush every day to keep up with the daily management and care of our teeth. Cleanings and checkups are significantly less expensive than getting a filling or a root canal, but a toothbrush and toothpaste are even more cost effective and provide daily preventive care. Routine hoof trimming is significantly less expensive than treating severe lameness. For example, say a routine trim costs $15. A block costs $15, and a wrap treatment costs $5. A trim plus treatment costs more than twice what a simple trim costs. Severe cases may require multiple trims and treatment, so it’s easy to see how lameness expenses add up quickly.

Early hoof health problems won’t be found unless you’re looking for them. Quite often, those problems can’t be seen until you pick up the foot to get a closer look. As with most cases of maintenance, it’s almost always less expensive to prevent a problem than fix one after it has started. 

A cow’s hooves are her foundation of health. Healthy, balanced hooves provide a comfortable and solid foundation. A comfortable cow is mobile, which allows her to stand, walk and eat as she needs to. Healthy feet also impact important behaviors such as grooming, socialization and showing signs of heat. A cow with lameness issues will be less prone to stand and eat for longer periods of time, thus decreasing feed intake. Additionally, a cow with sore feet will be less likely to exhibit signs of estrus if she knows mounting or standing for other cows causes increased pain.

Good nutrition

Nutrition and environment play a significant role in hoof health. Like brushing our teeth every day, we deal with herd nutrition and environment daily as well.

Feeding too much starch can result in the overproduction of lactic acid, which can lead to laminitis. According to the University of Minnesota, starch levels should be kept under 25% to help reduce the incidence of acidosis.

Diets should also contain at least 30% neutral detergent fiber, coming from high-quality forages. Research at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine found that Treponema bacteria, which are known to cause digital dermatitis (hairy heel warts), can travel from the digestive system to other parts of the body. These bacteria are found in both the rumen after high grain feeding and in the hooves of cows with digital dermatitis infections. 

Facilities and management also impact hoof health. Overcrowding pens creates an environment where cows need to compete for food and resting space. Competition results in fighting and injuries to feet and legs. While a small slip or bruise may not result in an immediate issue, not having space to rest the injury will likely result in issues further down the road. Injuries and bruising can lead to sole abscesses, ulcers, laminitis and hemorrhaging.

Keeping up with scraping pens contributes to good hoof health. Dirty, wet pens provide the ideal environment for hoof rot and digital dermatitis cases. Another hoof health issue on the rise is the reverse corkscrew claw. Growing heifers straining to reach feed stand in a position that causes abnormal strain on developing feet. Reverse corkscrew claw is attributed to feed bunk management, floor surfaces and overcrowding, and it typically develops in heifers and persists into adulthood. 

While there are many factors that contribute to healthy feet, daily management and routine care are a surefire strategy to claim your return on investment.

Bjurstrom is the regional Extension dairy educator for Brown, Kewaunee and Door counties in Wisconsin.