When it comes to lameness, most dairy herds have room for improvement. More than 40 percent of cows have “something on their foot,” according to University of Minnesota associate professor Dr. Gerard Cramer. That “something” is likely to be a sole ulcer, digital dermatitis or white-line disease.

While volunteering at the Hoof Trimmers Association booth at World Dairy Expo, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Oguz Calisici, a veterinarian from the country of Turkey and the general manager of a large dairy farm.

Editor’s note: This article was written as a follow-up to the piece, “Say goodbye to NPEs in teat dip,” published in the Jan. 19, 2015 issue of Progressive Dairyman. Editor's note: This article has been corrected to indicate the duties of the National Mastitis Council in recommending protocols, not testing for efficacy of teat dips. Recent action in international markets banning nonyl-phenol ethoxylates (NPE) in milk has raised U.S. dairy producers’ awareness of the substance in teat dips.

As farmers struggle to maintain the proper level of animal care without breaking the bank, an item which can potentially improve profitability while increasing cow comfort is a welcomed relief. Specifically, adding a cow brush to the pen could increase milk production, reduce disease, decrease property damage and alleviate stress.