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The last few years have been trying for everyone in the dairy industry, and dairy farmers are no exception to that. As a hoof trimmer of 18 years, I have been on hundreds of dairy farms worldwide and continue to be amazed by the levels of digital dermatitis (DD) I still see when visiting farms.
It is only natural and financially responsible to cut costs wherever possible; however, it is important to not make knee-jerk reactions that could potentially reduce income. With milk prices being at record lows, and commodities high, reducing income as a result of cutting cost would be counterproductive and only set in place a long line of problems and costs to follow.
What is the best product to run in my footbath? How often should I run my footbath? These are questions I am often asked by dairy producers. It seems everyone is looking for that “silver bullet” to control digital dermatitis (DD).
Proper hoof care management during the dry period is crucial to the cow’s ability to recover and replenish body condition. After a long, productive and taxing lactation, it is imperative that the cow is able to restore its nutrient reserves and recuperate.
When it comes to hoof trimming, are you getting precision balance – or are you just getting smaller hooves?
Hoof comfort has a major effect on milk production, reproduction, longevity, cull rate and overall herd health.
