For several years, Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, was troubled by an epidemic of twisted and turned-up toes on cows’ and heifers’ front feet, but with the help of a committed consultant, they have successfully taken control of corkscrew claws.

A good doctor does not come up with a successful treatment or prevention plan without obtaining the facts to make a proper diagnosis. The same goes for your hygiene specialist in order to prescribe the teat dip to prevent mastitis on your dairy.

June Dairy Month might be over, but that doesn’t mean we are off the hook when it comes to promoting the industry. Sharing our farm story and connecting with consumers is something we should be doing every day.

Digital dermatitis (DD), known as hairy heel warts, strawberry foot rot, raspberry heel, Mortellaro’s disease and foot warts, has become the most common foot lesion on many dairy herds throughout North America. It seems there are as many prevention and treatment products for DD as there are names for the disease.

I met my new neighbor this last week. He just bought the old place down the road and moved here from a big city. He said, “I wanted to move to rural America because you just can’t put a price on family values.”

I’m sure you’ve run into lameness challenges in the past – or perhaps you’re currently facing some challenges? Or maybe they’re looming around the corner but you’re not aware of them yet.

Editor's note: The CEO Corner contains editors' compilations of business news from top publications, which they have tailored for the dairy industry. Don’t tell me you’ve never done this before: It’s a blistering day and you’re standing in the farm store parking lot. You ran into town because you just needed that one part to fix a pump or a gate. Now you cannot find your truck keys … until you look through your locked driver’s side window to see them patiently waiting for you on the seat or in the cup holder.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is often referred to as “mastitis of the hoof.” When it comes to milk production, hoof care can be just as important as udder care. A lame cow won’t be able to stand on its feet, and when it can’t stand, it can’t get the proper nutrition. And we know proper nutrition is essential for maximum milk production.

Finding cows with a locomotion score of “3” could be the magic number that transforms lameness levels within a dairy herd, according to Neil Andrew, Northeast account manager with Zinpro Corporation.

Ben Sorrell lives in Galena, Missouri, traveling across the state and into northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma as a professional hoof trimmer.