A beef brood cow on our farm in Rittman is nearing “retirement.” Her name is simply “Cow 60,” because her ear tag bears the No. 60.

When people reach age 60, many consider retirement. But not all humans retire at 60, and certainly Cow 60 is not ready for culling. All she needs to continue her streak of producing outstanding calves is an occasional trimming of her hooves.

Proper hoof maintenance keeps Cow 60 from retirement. Fifteen minutes on the hoof trimmer’s turntable, and she is good for another season of calving.

So what does hoof trimming have to do with cattle reproduction and performance? What are some of the common concerns with cattle hooves?

Lameness in cattle
With any hoofed animal, it is important to monitor and maintain sound hoof health. Lameness occurs when there is a crippling or a physical disability as a result of a foot or leg problem that causes cattle to limp or move with difficulty. As much as 95% of lameness is due to hoof-related issues. Lameness in cattle is often a reason for culling.

And lameness is costly to producers. As a result, cattle can suffer weight loss. In dairy cattle, milk production can decrease. With bulls, in particular, cattle can be hesitant to breed and even incur fever that affects fertility.

Lameness is derived from a long list of unhealthy hoof conditions. Here is a list of some of the most common hoof problems in cattle.

• Sole ulcer. A common and costly condition that causes extreme pain and lameness in cattle is the sole ulcer, or Pododermatitis circumscripta. Sole ulcers are a lesion on the toe or most often the heel of the hoof. It disrupts production of horn material on the hoof.

Since the condition is common, sole ulcers can be suspected when cattle present a noted limp, but this condition must be officially identified during a hoof trimming. When removing normal horn material on the sole of the hoof, the hoof trimmer can detect the ulcer. The treatment for this condition is often a “block,” which is an extension added to the hoof digit that is unaffected. This creates a transfer in the weight bearing of the hoof digits. The differing heights to the hoof digits relieve pressure on the sole ulcer and allow for an opportunity of healing.

WEIGHT TRANSFER: Cow 60 is ready to exit the hoof trimmer’s turn table after a block is applied to transfer weight off her affected hoof. 

• Hairy wart. Another condition that is common is digital dermatitis, or simply referred to as hairy wart. The nickname comes from the raw, reddened area of concern, which is rounded by projected hair-like structures. This condition causes no fever in cattle, but it is painful.

Hairy wart is highly contagious and is caused by bacteria, which tend to thrive in manure and wet conditions. A topical solution is often used to treat hairy wart if not an advanced case.

• Foot rot. Another common condition is called foot rot, or interdigital phlegmon. Also referred to as infectious pododermatitis, this condition is often caused by invasion of bacteria called Fusobacterium necrophorum, which often enters hooves between the two digits of the hoof. Like hairy wart, wet conditions can promote the bacteria’s growth.

An obvious limp is a sign of foot rot, which can produce a fever. In addition, the area just above the hoof is often noticeably swollen equally on both sides in a symmetrical pattern. If given the opportunity to inspect the hoof up close, there is a foul smell associated with this bacterium.

Mild cases of foot rot can be treated by a hoof trimmer who applies a topical cream after thoroughly cleaning between the digits. In most cases, however, veterinary supervision may be advised, since the swelling could progress upward from the hoof.

NO STRUGGLE: Cow 60 lies on her side on the hoof trimmer’s turntable, and although uncomfortable, she does not struggle.

• Deep infection. While foot rot results in a symmetrical presentation of swelling, deep infection is synonymous with asymmetrical swelling. Deep infection can occur in cattle hooves when cracks or breaks in the hoof result from walking rough terrain in pastures or standing on hard surfaces in barns and feedlots.

The cracks in the hoof allow an infection to invade muscle or bone tissue. The asymmetrical pattern of swelling is typically associated with the location where the hoof was injured, leading to a damaged point of entry and swelling on one side. Abscesses occur when bacteria get trapped inside the hoof. Of course, the obvious symptom, once again, is limping. Treatment will most likely require veterinary care.

• Laminitis. While many conditions with cattle hooves are driven by environmental conditions, laminitis is an inflammation of the laminae, or skin surrounding the bones of the hoof, which reacts by changing the bone and tissue structures and is thought to be caused by either environmental conditions, genetic conditions, or both.

It is often thought that laminitis is triggered by diet, but much research and mystery surrounds laminitis. This serious hoof problem is thought to be a non-infectious condition that presents as foot tenderness and can potentially progress to an inability to walk. Acute sole ulcers are often a precursor to the chronic condition of laminitis.

Also referred to as “slipper foot” in cattle, laminitis is a serious condition where veterinary intervention is required. Detection in early stages is key.

Preventing hoof problems
Since most hoof problems are increased by environmental conditions, producers can perform preventive measures to decrease the potential for lameness in their cattle herd. Rocky pastures should be avoided by cattle since they can lead to breaks in hooves. And a constantly wet or contaminated hoof environment can encourage bacteria growth. Footbaths are common in dairy cattle barns to clean hooves, but beef cattle can also use footbaths to promote healthy hooves.

HAPPY COW: Carrie Tomko advises that keeping cows healthy and happy requires attention to their hooves.

Normal wear and tear of hooves is normal for cattle, but issues beyond that need the attention of a hoof trimmer or a veterinarian to prevent and treat lameness in cattle, as well as promote cattle performance, such as weight gain and reproduction.

With Cow 60, she has undergone her time on the hoof trimmer’s turntable with excellent results to promote her outstanding calving performance. Culling is not in her foreseeable future. Although she is getting up in age, she is not retiring. Cow 60 continues to be an excellent producer and keeps producing.

Tomko is a professor and farmer from Rittman.