Did you know that lameness in the first three months of calving is common? This is a vulnerable time for your herd and knowing how to protect them from the development of lameness can make all the difference to their wellbeing and to your business. At HoofCare Direct, we know that lameness is a serious concern for farmers all over the world, and we are committed to working with farmers in Ireland to find solutions that work.
Before calving season begins, you have time to make changes and implement new processes that can prevent the onset of lameness. Once calving season starts, your animals will be under increased stress and taking steps to prevent lameness beforehand can have a very positive impact. Let’s take a look at how we can prevent lameness in fresh cows.
Protecting Your Herd for Calving Season
Like humans, cows experience an excess of the hormone relaxin when they are preparing for birth. At this point, ligaments soften and problems such as lameness are more likely to occur. Taking steps to protect your herd while they are most at risk can help to prevent lameness. You can:
1. Carry Out Routine Hoof Trimming
Hoof trimming is essential to the health of your animals and helps to make sure that they have strong hooves that can resist injury and infection. Hoof trimming must be carried out by an experienced professional, and the correct protocol must be followed to ensure that hooves are not damaged in the process. A hoof trimming crate can be an excellent solution to minimise discomfort and make light work of this task.
2. Move Cows Carefully
The way your cows are moved around your farm can have a big impact on the health of their hooves, and you should always ensure that they have plenty of space to move freely. Cows should never be pressured to move through gateways and entranceways quickly, and they should have room to place their feet carefully to prevent damage to their hooves. Look at making changes to your set up to avoid sharp bends and obstacles in commonly used walkways for your animals.
3. Minimise Walking
You may need to be strategic about the locations in which freshly calved cows are kept and grazed, so that they do not need to walk long distances while they are at their most vulnerable. The relaxin in their bodies makes it harder for them to maintain good hoof health and enabling them to walk shorter distances can help a great deal. Cows should be kept near the milking parlour for a week after calving at a minimum, but it may be helpful to bear in mind that relaxin levels do not begin to drop for at least two weeks.
4. Keep Paths Clear
When cows are able to move slowly, they will take the time to examine the ground they are walking on and will avoid areas of debris and potential slip hazards. It is important to keep the ground clear, especially on pathways and roadways where your cattle move between milking or grazing, and to give your cows time to assess the surfaces they are walking on.
5. Use Mobility Scoring
Mobility scoring is a very helpful way to keep an eye on your animals and identify those at risk of lameness. Monitoring your cows carefully will enable you to separate animals you believe to be at risk of lameness and treat them accordingly. Early intervention increases the likelihood of positive outcomes, and you can do this more effectively when you use mobility scoring.
6. Use Footbaths
Protecting your cows from infection is key to preventing health problems, and footbaths are a good way to do this. If your herd has any signs of Mortellarro, it is especially important to treat them repeatedly before the calving season begins.
The key to success is gentle and patient handling of your animals, especially before and during calving season. You’ll find the essential calving equipment to keep your herd healthy on our website, and we will be happy to discuss this with you.
Visit HoofCare Direct
Here at HoofCare Direct, we have an extensive range of hoof care products, maintenance tools and high-quality protective clothing. We will be happy to show you our hoof trimming crates in operation, and you can order online or contact us for more information.