Mobility and claw health in cattle

• What are the costs associated with lameness in dairy cattle production?

  • Reduced fertility and milk yield
  • Increased culling risk
  • Poor oestrus expression
  • Negative energy balance
  • Increased calving intervals

  
• What types of medications are used for lameness treatment?

  Antibiotics and analgesics
• How does incidence differ from prevalence in lameness?

  • Incidence: Number affected at any time
  • Prevalence: Cases per 100 cows/year
• What are common infectious causes of lameness?

  • Digital dermatitis
  • Interdigital necrobacillosis
  • Interdigital hyperplasia
• What are the steps in an individual treatment plan for lameness?

  1. Trim and examine foot
  2. Apply block if necessary
  3. Apply topical treatments if necessary
  4. Apply NSAIDs if necessary
  5. Apply systemic antibiotics if necessary
  6. Invasive trimming if advanced
  7. Digit amputation if advanced
• What is the Dutch 5 step foot trimming method?

  1. Length: 75-80mm toe-coronary band
  2. Level: 5mm toe height
  3. Model
  4. Treatment and lower height of lame claw
  5. Loose horn and irregular ridges
• What are the guidelines for topical treatments in infectious cases?

  • Clean and dry area
  • Apply topical treatment
  • Use antibiotics or non-antibiotics
  • Repeat for 3-5 days
• What are the systemic treatments for lameness?

  • NSAIDs with milk withdrawal considerations
  • Antibiotics for 3-5 days
• What is involved in invasive trimming or digit amputation?

  • Surgical approach for advanced cases
  • Apply tourniquet and IVRA
  • Post-op care with bandage changes
• What are the external and internal factors affecting heifer replacements?

  • External: Management changes, competition
  • Internal: Calving, udder size, foetal weight
• What combined approach can control digital dermatitis?

  • Improve underfoot hygiene
  • Regular disinfectant footbathing
• What action do disinfectant foot baths demonstrate?

  Curative and preventative action
• Why should antimicrobial foot baths not be used routinely?

  They are not effective for digital dermatitis management
• What combined approach can control digital dermatitis?

  Improving hygiene and regular disinfectant footbathing
• What method is mentioned for trimming hooves?

  Dutch 5-Step method

  
• What factors are included in the Dutch 5-Step method?

  Length, levels, models, treatment, lower height
• What should be avoided in trimming timing related to calving?

  Avoid 4 weeks pre and 8 weeks post calving
• What is the ideal frequency of routine trimming for housed herds?

  Twice annually
• What is a key performance indicator for mobility scoring?

  Prevalence of mobility score 2 and 3 cows
• What is the cow comfort index related to?

  Cows lying vs standing in cubicles
• What are shearing forces related to in cow housing?

  Around corners and high stocking density areas