Cattle Lameness and Hoof Trimming

Question 1

What are some infectious foot lesions?

Answer 1

Heel Wart (Digital Dermatitis)
Foot Rot (Fuscobacterium nephroum)
Heel Erosion

Question 2

What are some non-infectious lameness lesions?

Answer 2

Interdigital Hyperplasia, sole/toe ulcer, white line disease, thin sole, corkscrew claw, wall crack and fissures

Question 3

What does lameness effect?

Answer 3

Locomotion, health, welfare and productivity (milk and meat)

Question 4

What is the prevalence of lameness in beef and dairy cattle?

Answer 4

Dairy: 30-40%
Beef: 20-30% Feedlot

Question 5

What are the locomotion scores of cattle?

Answer 5

1 - Normal
2 - Mildly Lame - Flat back, arch when walks
3 - Moderatly Lame - stand and walk with arched back and short strides
4 - Lame - arched back stand and walk, favor leg
5 - Severely Lame - constant arch, hard to move

Question 6

What can you use a lameness score for?

Answer 6

Early detection lameness
Monitor Prevalence in herd
Estimate profit loss
benchmark for prevention
Compare between herds
ID Cows for trims

Question 7

What are some factors for overall success in lameness?

Answer 7

-Early Detection and Treatment
-Low infection Pressure (Footbath/clean environment)
-Low Forces on Feet (Comfort and flooring)
-Good horn quality and shape
-Thickness of Digital Cushion based on BCS

Question 8

How much time should a cow spend eating, resting, milking?

Answer 8

Eating: 3-5hr
Resting: 12-14hr
Milking: <3.5hr

Question 9

What percent of cows should have a lameness score of 3-4?

Answer 9

25% or less

Question 10

What are essential nutrients and direct nutrients that effect hoof quality?

Answer 10

Water, protein, energy, mineral and vitamins

Zinc, Biotin, Cu, MN and Se

Question 11

What are some good lameness benchmarks to help your farmer?

Answer 11

75-85% with LS1-LS2
15-25% with clinical lameness

Question 12

What is one key to managing lameness?

Answer 12

Foot Trimming

Question 13

What are the 5 points to the Dutch hoof trimming method?

Answer 13

1. Measure and trim 1st claw (Medial in hind, external in front)
2. Match trim to opposite foot
3. Dish out claw
4. Relieve weight from affected claw
5. Remove loose horn

Question 14

How long should the claw be from coronary band to toe, at the sole and what degree should the hoof angle be at?

Answer 14

7.5mm or 3 inches
80mm
52 Degrees

Question 15

Why is dishing out the center helful?

Answer 15

Weight is transferred from the center of the sole to the wall, toe and heel

Question 16

When relieving weight, which side do you block?

Answer 16

The good side, leave back open

Question 17

How long should a hoof block stay on to help the cow?

Answer 17

3 weeks

Question 18

If you have a chute but no restraint, what can you use to help work on the foot?

Answer 18

Clove-hitch and lariat to make pulley