66. Elements of foot care in small ruminants on individual and herd leve

Question 1

Technological components of foot care causes?

Answer 1

Technological components of foot care

• Genetics
• Nutrition
• Housing
• Hoof trimming (paring)
• Foot bathing
• Defense against infectious diseases

Question 2

Genetics?

Answer 2

Genetics
• Cull animals (especially rams/bucks) with chronic lameness and/or incorrectly shaped foot
o Even if their reproductive performance is relatively normal, some predisposing factors for
lameness can be hereditary -> these animals should be removed from breeding
• Selection for healthier feet is possible
o Some breeds/types are more resistant against infectious diseases
o Some breeds/types have with better foot shape and stronger hooves
• Usually (but not exclusively) extensive breeds have less prevalence of lameness, while intensive
breeds are more sensitive to foot problems
• Genetic marker tests are now being investigated (New Zealand, UK)

Question 3

Nutrition?

Answer 3

Nutrition

• Overall good quality feed is necessary for good foot health
• Specific feed components influencing foot health:

o Too much grain can cause acidosis and consequently laminitis

o Zinc deficiency causes parakeratosis, especially in younger lambs. The symptoms are: skin

lesions, depression, wool eating, flexed knees and stiff gait

o Vitamin E/Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease, which can cause abnormal

locomotive functions (goat>sheep)

• Trace mineral supplementation can reduce the percentage of lame animals

Question 4

Housing?

Answer 4

Housing

• Barns, pens, handling systems and pasture all must be in adequate condition to avoid contributing

to the problem

• Barns

o Dry bedding, frequent cleaning

o Avoid very rough surfaces

o All pens must prevent animals from escaping (most trauma cases happen when animals

try to escape through fences)

• Handling system

o Frequent cleaning

o Change of placement (mobile systems shouldn’t be used in the same area continuously,

because the ground will get wet and contaminated)

• Pasture

o Avoid continuously wet pastures

o Rotate pastures to minimize the spread of infectious foot diseases, with at least 2 weeks of

break between groups

Question 5

Hoof trimming pairing?

Answer 5

Hoof trimming (paring) – equipment

• Shepherds hook

o Optional for catching the animals

• Fixation devices
• Sharp trimming knife or shears
• Bandages, sprays, medicine

Hoof trimming (paring)

• Small ruminants· hooves tend to overgrow in farm conditions

o Some owners feed the animals on roughened concrete to “naturally” wear down the hooves

• Frequency:

o Once a year on most farms

o In cases of lameness, more frequent trimming may be needed

Hoof trimming (paring) - the process

• The animals need to be restrained

o Tipping or tilting

o Goats have to be restrained in a standing position

• Gently clean out the dirt from the sole
• Cut the overgrown wall horn of the hoof (axially and abaxially)
• Cut the tip of each claw (no bleeding should be present)
• Be careful around the heel, only trim if it’s needed
• Too frequent or too harsh trimming can CAUSE an increase in the percentage of lameness!

o If there’s any bleeding, the hoof was trimmed too deep

o Only the overgrown edge of the wall should be cut

o In case of disease, further trimming is needed for diagnosis, and to remove loose hoof

Question 6

Foot bathing ?

Answer 6

Foot bathing

• Routinely used in most farms; in the case of lameness, the frequency of foot bathing is increased
• Cleans and disinfects the hoof
• Only effective, if the process is well executed

o The handling facilities should be in good condition, especially the surface the animals stand

on during the bathing

o The solutions must be diluted to the correct concentration, and changed as needed

o The animals need to spend the required time in the solution

o After the treatment, the animals shouldn’t be turned out to a wet pasture or to a barn with

wet bedding!

§ Studies suggest that foot bathing is most effective if the animals are turned out to

fresh, dry pasture (unused for at least 2 weeks)

• Most common agents:

o Formalin (3%)

§ Can be used as a walk-through solution

§ Cheap

§ Irritant, and a known carcinogen

o Zinc-sulphate (10%)

§ Non-irritant

§ Stand-in solution: the animals need to be standing in it for about 20-30 mins

§ Relatively expensive

o Copper-sulphate (5%)

§ Similar to zinc-sulphate in effect

§ Rarely used because of copper toxicity in small ruminants

• Antibiotic footbaths

o Can be very effective, but their use is not in line with the principles of prudent antibiotic

therapy

Question 7

Defence against infectious disease?

Answer 7

Defense against infectious diseases

• Isolation of lame animals

o In case of infectious lameness, studies show that separating the affected animals in 1-3 days

can significantly lower the percentage of lameness in the herd. They need to be moved as

little as possible, and kept on a dry pasture or in a barn with dry bedding

• Culling of chronically lame animals
• Farm biosecurity

o Newly purchased animals should be quarantined for at least 4 weeks

o Foot bathing before introduction to the herd

• Vaccination (in specific cases)
• Antibiotic therapy (depends on the nature of the disease)