Many herds enter the cooler fall and winter months with existing claw lesions that formed during the summer weather.

As the seasons change and cooler temperatures arrive, now is a great time to evaluate the current state of hoof health in your herd. Hoof health records, maintained throughout the year, can be a tremendous resource to establish baseline levels for both infectious and non-infectious claw lesions.

Data collected from several large dairy herds is being used to benchmark claw lesions that lead to lameness, with digital dermatitis being the most common culprit. A recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science details findings from an analysis of foot health records from 17 confinement dairies.