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Lameness is a serious cow comfort issue that can have a large impact on herd performance. Lameness can cause a cow to have poor milking performance and can lead to culling of an animal. These are of great cost and concern for a producer.
The best way to combat lameness is to prevent it. Most farmers have a foot trimming schedule and use proper foot bath management, but there are a few more ways to stop lameness before it happens.
Stall Management
An important factor to consider is stall management. There are several measurement guidelines for how large stalls should be but not all cows are the same size. In general, stalls should be wide enough and long enough for a cow to lay down without hanging over the edge or leaning against the divider. This will also help prevent any possible sores from rubbing. The bedding should be soft and thick to encourage laying time. A cow should spend 14 hours laying down per day. Sand bedding has been shown to increase laying time in comparison to mattresses. Mattresses can also lead to rubbing, which can cause lesions that can eventually lead to lameness.
Overstocking free stall pens also negatively impacts foot and leg health because it limits the ability for cows to freely lie down and stand up.
Flooring Type
Flooring is key to lameness prevention. Traction should be provided to prevent slipping, which will reduce injuries that can lead to lameness. An important place to make sure you have proper flooring is in your parlor holding area since this is where cows spend a significant amount of time standing.
Locomotion Scoring
Locomotion Scoring guidelines are an essential tool to catch help identify and prevent lameness before it starts. Listed below are Zinpro‘s guidelines concerning locomotion scoring that allows a producer to identify the cows that require treatment.
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Score: |
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1 |
Normal |
Back is level and cow makes long strides. |
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2 |
Mildly Lame |
When standing, back is level. Upon walking, back arches. Her gait is slightly abnormal. |
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3 |
Moderately Lame |
When standing and walking, back is arched. She makes short strides with one or more legs. Sinking of dew claws opposite of the affected limb may be evident. |
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4 |
Lame |
When standing and walking, back is arched. She will favor one or more limbs but is still able to bear weight on them. Sinking of dew claws is evident opposite the affected limb. |
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5 |
Severely Lame |
When standing and walking, there is pronounced arching of the back. She is reluctant to move and bears hardly any weight on the affected limb. |
Identify Problem Cows Early
The best way to treat lameness is to identify cows with issues early (when they are at a score of 2 or 3), so treatment can be given before the issue becomes serious and the animal is less likely to recover as a result. This may sound like a simple solution; however, research has shown that farmers and farm workers are unable to recognize 70% of cows that are lame.
Nutrition
Finally, another way to help prevent lameness is by having a well-balanced ration. ANC offers several products that contain biotin, which has been shown to improve hoof health.
Source: ANC
