Page 2 - Lameness newsletter 2020 15

Interchem Lameness Summer Newsletter 2020
Ger Cusack, MVB, MRCVS, Dairy DHH, of XL Vets & Comeragh Vets

outlines lameness issues during the mid-season grazing period

On our farms, the great uncontrollable What is best practice in terms of Foul in the foot
is our Irish weather. Met Eireann rain- lameness treatment at this time of
fall data from Oak Park in Carlow shows year?
that in the period March to May 2020, i) Early detection of lameness cases
the rainfall experienced was less than ii) Prompt and effective treatment of
50% of average rainfall over the last 4 lame cows to avoid loss of body condi-
years. tion
When grazing conditions and roadway iii) Identify Mortellaro cases if present.
surfaces are dry, hooves tend to be Lift affected feet, clean, dry off and
harder and more durable. This has been spray with an antibiotic daily for 3 days.
reflected in what we are seeing on farms iv) Weekly foot bathing if Mortellaro is
over the last couple of months. Fewer present and active on the farm. This will
cases of white line disease, fewer cases serve to reduce the infection pressure Mortellaro or Digital Dermatitis
of sole bruising and thin soles have pre- and reduce the number of new clinical
sented. I have seen a high prevalence of cases appearing.
infections such as foul in the foot and
Mortellaro or digital dermatitis. Many What are the risk factors that might
of these cows were infected originally contribute to hoof conditions like
with Mortellaro over the housing period white line disease or sole bruising?
and these infections persisted. If these conditions occur, you might ask
However, when we consider that the some of the following questions:
single most important job on a dairy i) What are the roadway surfaces like?
farm in these few months is ensuring ii)What distances do the cows have to
that as many cows as possible are bred walk? White Line Disease (Drop)
as quickly as possible, it is vital that cows iii)Are the cows allowed walk at their
that become lame are treated promptly own pace? Is there a dog on the farm?
and effectively. A cow that is lame will iv)Is there 1.5 sq. metres per cow in the
graze for shorter periods than her co- collecting yard to allow cows move
horts and will lose body condition. She comfortably in the yard?
will be less likely to come into heat and
if she does come bulling, the likelihood
of her conceiving and maintaining a
pregnancy will be reduced.

How can we improve pain management and cure rates in lame cows?

A study from the University of Nottingham looked at the
different ways of managing lameness associated with
claw horn disease in the hind foot, to see which resulted
in the quickest and most complete recovery*.
The table below compares the cure rates of 183 cows af-
ter one of four different treatment options.

Treatment Trim Trim & Trim & Trim, Block
only Block NSAID* & NSAID*
Cure Rate 69% 72% 76% 85%

85% of the cows treated with foot trimming, a block and
ketoprofen were considered to be non-lame after 35
days. which was approximately 10% better than the next
best treatment combination.

*Ketoprofen for 3 days.