FAC37-38: Conditions of the Bovine Foot Flashcards
How many lame cows are there really?
Estimated 25 lameness cases for every 100 cows
What are other aspects involving the cow affected by lameness?
- Fertility
- Milk yield
- Cow welfare
- May reduce resistance to other diseases
- Increased risk of culling
- Veterinary treatments
- Increased labour costs
What is the slowest point of growth on the cow foot? Fastest point of growth?
Slow: heel
Fast: toe
What is the hardest part of the cow horn foot? Weakest?
Hard: wall
Weak: white line
How thick does the sole need to be to withstand bruising and stone penetration?
8mm
How much of the total weight of a cow is supported by the back feet? the front feet?
Back: 45%
Front: 55%
What is the optimal length of time that cows should spend lying down?
12-14 hours per day
What are the five principles of foot trimming?
- Correct tow overgrowth to correct foot angle
- Spare the heel, leave sole thickness
- Allow the walls to bear most weight, take weight off the sole ulcer site
- Remove weight from painful claws
- Remove dead or disease horn
What is the ideal angle of the toe and the ideal length of the horn?
toe = 52 degrees
length = 80mm
What are the management factors affecting lameness?
Calving
Foot trimming
Cow comfort
What are the environmental factors affecting lameness?
digital dermatitis
Slurry heel
Foul of the foot
What are the nutritional factors affecting lameness?
White line lesions
Sole ulcers
Haemorrhages (bruising)
How do you prevent/treat sole bruising?
- Corrective trim with care not to make matters worse by making the soles thin
- Consider ways of reducing standing times on concrete and hardening horn
- If only one claw is affected, apply block to healthy claw
- Rest the cow on soft bedding
- NSAIDs for pain
How do sole ulcers form?
The pedal bone pinches on the bottom of the sole leading to bruising and ulcers
Why is correct food balance important?
It prevents the pedal bone from pinching the corium, which will lead to bruising and ulcers