Lameness: The Sign of a Locomotor Apparatus Problem – Effects, Causes, and Responses to Multiple Health and Production Issues
When considering lameness and hoof diseases in dairy cattle, it is important to note that in 80% of cases, these affect the rear legs, typically at the level of the outer claws.
Only in 20% of cases are the front legs involved, and in these cases, the problems are usually located at the level of the inner claws.
Lameness: Focus on Dairy Farms
It is evident how the selection of dairy cows aimed at increasing production has led to excellent results, but at the cost of a more fragile and delicate locomotor apparatus, prone to lameness. Hoof disease is the third leading cause of involuntary culling. Lameness is a reflex sign of an animal trying to relieve pain in a limb: the animal will tend to move as little as possible, and the most obvious consequence will be a decrease in feed intake and milk production, with the animal struggling to reach the feeding trough.
Lameness: Decreased Appetite and Impact on Estrus
An animal suffering from lameness will have decreased appetite due to severe pain.
Moreover, being unable to move, the same animal may show less noticeable estrus with a reduction in reproductive performance and also face a higher risk of developing other serious conditions, such as fractures and arthritis, with a high risk of death or emergency culling. Adding to this are veterinary costs, increased workload, and losses from unsellable milk due to treatments, making adherence to a proper hoof health prevention protocol crucial for effective herd management.
Which Products to Use for the Prevention and Support of Lameness?
Tecnozoo has developed specific products for the prevention of lameness and proper hoof hygiene:
Pomapodalik
Protective hoof ointment for treating foot wounds and lameness.
To download the product technical sheet or request a quote, send an email to service@tecnozoo.it or call (+39) 049-9350743.
Podalik Plus
PODALIK Plus aids in hoof hygiene through immersion of the extremities: the presence of Zinc and Copper salts helps naturally strengthen the hooves, while other components with bacterial load control action support and promote the healing processes of the foot and lameness.
Noteworthy is the significant sanitizing activity of glutaraldehyde with very minimal tissue toxicity to the foot (both soft and hard tissues), making it preferable to formalin.
PODALIK PLUS can also be used via nebulization.
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