3 factors that influence the occurrence of lameness
1 ENVIRONMENT
2 MANAGEMENT
3 ANIMALS
Read also “Hoof Diseases in Cattle: How to Prevent Them”
Foot diseases in dairy cattle involve the hind feet in 80% of cases, typically affecting the outer claws.
Only 20% of cases involve the front limbs, and in these cases, the issues are localized in the inner claws.
The selection of dairy cows aimed at increasingly higher productions has achieved excellent results in this regard, but at the cost of a more fragile and delicate locomotor system.
According to data collected on farms, hoof disease is the third leading cause (and in some farms even the second) of involuntary culling.
Lameness is a sign that an animal is trying to alleviate pain in a limb by moving as little as possible, which leads to reduced feed intake and milk production, and the animal will have a poor appetite due to the severe pain.
Additionally, having difficulty moving, the animal may exhibit estrus less clearly, reducing reproductive performance and increasing the risk of other serious conditions, such as fractures and arthritis, with a high risk of death or urgent culling.
When you add in the veterinary costs, the increased workload, and the losses from unsellable milk during treatments, it becomes clear that adherence to a proper hoof disease prevention protocol is essential for effective herd management.
Lameness, 2 recommended products for you
Tecnozoo experts recommend two products to use in your herd to enhance the prevention of lameness.
ZINCOTRIS P
ZINCOTRIS P is a dietary mineral feed containing a source of zinc chelated with methionine, which enhances its absorption
and, together with the iodine and biotin it contains, helps stabilize and/or improve the skin and its appendages (hooves, udder).
PODALIK PLUS
Podalik Plus is a solution for hoof hygiene and the prevention of all forms of lameness in animals through immersion of the extremities.
The presence of zinc and copper salts helps naturally strengthen the hooves, while other components with antibacterial properties assist and promote the healing processes of the foot.
It is important to highlight the significant sanitizing activity of glutaraldehyde, which has minimal tissue irritant effects on the foot (both soft and hard tissues), making it preferable to formalin. PODALIK PLUS can also be used through spraying.
Discover all Tecnozoo products for the hygiene and biosecurity of your herd
