Lameness in cows: veterinarian's advice
- Lameness is the primary reason for culling in France. Why is the health of cows' feet a major concern for dairy farmers?
The dairy farmer must pay close attention to the cow's feet, even before noticing any lameness, for two reasons. First, there is often an imbalance between growth (5mm/month on average) and wear of the hooves, depending on the type of surface the cows walk on (soil type in the buildings, access or not to pasture). The dairy farmer's role is therefore to maintain the right balance through functional trimming (ideally twice a year).
The second reason is that nascent lameness is often difficult to detect. It is not uncommon for the dairy farmer to detect lameness when it is already advanced to level 3 or 4 (lameness score from 1 to 5 according to the international standard; a score of 5 is often incurable and leads to culling). It is important to know that the later lameness is addressed, the more difficult it will be to treat.
- What are the external causes of lameness? Does the presence of stones on the ground play a role?
Lameness is directly related to livestock living conditions. Prolonged standing is not natural for cows. In buildings, this is especially true when the floor is hard and abrasive, leading to hyperplasia (excessive hoof growth) and sole congestion.
In barns, stones can also injure the foot. Ubiquitous in silage, they end up in cow manure and then in the building. The impact of stones on the sole can quickly become infected due to the bacteria present on the ground. Building hygiene is therefore essential from this point of view.
- Can the flooring in buildings be a key factor in preventing lameness?
Backed by an overall strategy of vigilance and monitoring of the herd, the design of the building obviously helps to limit lameness problems. The non-slip Magellan coating from Bioret Agri takes into account the aspects mentioned above, whether it is the hardness of the floor, the presence of stones that fall into the grooves and the cleanliness of the building. The flow of urine is particularly interesting from this point of view, since ammonia is very aggressive to the sole. On an uneven floor, there is humid stagnation, real breeding grounds for bacteria. The problem disappears completely with the Magellan cow mat. Its "grip" aspect, non-slip also limits slips, which are often sources of lameness. In general, Bioret Agri takes animal welfare into account in the design of its products.
In terms of building design, consideration should also be given to the presence of footbaths and the need for the dairy farmer to have easily accessible trimming chutes. No two cases of lameness are identical. To treat it, the cause of the lesion must be identified. The only way to treat lameness is to lift the cows' feet.
- Identifying lameness: how to proceed?
In motion, the symptoms of lameness are a little easier to assess. The cow moves more slowly and puts less weight on the painful foot. When stationary, at the feed bunk for example, the dairy farmer must be alert to certain telltale signs:
- The cow spreads its legs further apart to reduce the pressure on the painful claw.
- The backline is curved; the cow has a "rounded back."
- She lifts her head when she puts her painful foot down.
These dysfunctions will be easier to detect with regular herd monitoring and if the cows move serenely on a stable and flexible floor.
With Farmconsult, Dr. Fabozzi independently supports dairy farmers in setting up their farm strategy, on all issues of herd management and building design. He is familiar with Bioret Agri products and observes their positive effects on the health of cows and the farm.
