Dean Rowley demonstrates how to relieve pressure on the pedal bone of a cow, to reduce the risk of an ulcer from internal haemorrhaging.
Photo by
Jeanette Severs
Up to 20 per cent of a milking herd is lame, and it’s important to identify these cows early and treat or manage them.
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That’s been the message at hoof care workshops in Gippsland, in southern Victoria, held over the past year.
Dean Rowley, of Gippsland Hoof Care, has been demonstrating hoof care for cows in workshops on dairy farms on behalf of GippsDairy.
He has been demonstrating cleaning the hoof to investigate its health, trimming, identifying and treating lesions, and how to apply a block.
Dean recommends drying-off as the ideal time for annual hoof care for cows, when the follow-up care post-trimming includes rest in the paddock.
“We’re always going to have lame cows in the herd,” he said.
“A 600kg cow with 40 litres of milk under her is at risk of foot problems.
“During lactation, 15 to 20 per cent of your herd will be lame.”
Dean Rowley uses a purpose-built crush to make the cow as comfortable as possible during her treatment.
Photo by
Jeanette Severs
Dean said modern dairy farm production systems set cows up for foot problems, irrespective of their breeding. Farms are bigger, cows are standing longer in the dairy yard, but there are ways of managing that to minimise the impact on a cow of moving and standing.
“A healthy hoof grows four millimetres in a month and we’re making cows walk kilometres a day — and they’re not designed for that. Cows should only walk 100 metres a day.
“We’re pushing cows for maximum production and their feet are getting minimal attention. So you need to manage her feet accordingly.
“Good hoof care means the cow is better with management.
“It’s important to identify lame cows early, identify the extent of lesions, and minimise their impact early.
“Lactating cows need to be able to rely on the maximum weight bearing surface of their feet, for production.”
Dean Rowley uses a grinder to trim the lateral and media claws on the cow’s hoof.
Photo by
Jeanette Severs
Dean said it was important to take pressure off the surface under the foot, to reduce the risk of tendon rupture.
“Blue metal is a hard stone, and it’s traditionally been used in dairy yards,” he said.
“And steps and up and down ramps in the dairy yard add pressure to cows hoofs and legs.”
An alternate is rubber matting in the dairy yard — for the comfort of cows and workers.
“On 90 per cent of farms I visit, I see loose stones sitting on concrete in the yards,” Dean said.
He recommends ensuring every loose stone is pressure washed out of the dairy and yard, before the cows arrive for milking.
“The dorsal wall is the thickest wall and we’re looking at not compromising the sole cushion.
“When we see bruising, it’s an indication of bleeding around the capsule, when the sole is haemorrhaging.”
After identifying bruising, Dean Rowley had to cut back the nail bed to identify where the lesion and haemorrhage were coming from on this cow’s hoof.
Photo by
Jeanette Severs
Woodchips are also an issue. Dean has seen woodchips penetrate the hoof and create footrot — which requires more intense care and anti-inflammatories for the cow.
Doing the demonstration workshops on dairy farms means Dean has been able to choose cows for the audience that enable him to discuss and demonstrate identifying and treating basic lesions.
“The number one lesion in Australia is the white line. This leads to cracks, puncture in the sole, splits the horn, and you will see a pus discharge,” Dean said.
“If you notice swelling around the back of the dew claw, something has split the skin. Consider the condition of your laneways and tracks — your cow might have picked up a stone.
“I make a lot of money from stones.”
A cow’s hoof trimmed by Dean Rowley to land square on the ground.
Photo by
Jeanette Severs
Management includes investigating what has caused the lameness, treating with a possible pain block, rest in a paddock to reduce how much the cow walks, and penicillin only if necessary.
“Farmers waste a lot of money on penicillin when they don’t have to,” Dean said.
“Clean up the hoof, put a block on it to relieve the pressure of the cow’s weight, and potentially use some anti-inflammatories or penicillin depending on the farm policy.
“Weight bearing on the block takes 70 per cent of the pressure off the toe.
“And 60 per cent of the cow’s weight is carried on the front feet.
“Structurally, we want to keep the foot sound and retain stability in the cow.
“I believe the blocks save cows lives. It’s a minimum cost for maximum reward.”
One of the more common issues he deals with is trimming the lateral claw to balance against the medial claw.
Another common problem is identifying internal haemorrhage of the pedal bone, and reducing the risk of an ulcerating sole.
Genetics can also make a difference, and the farmer may choose to cull for genetic selection the cows with repeat or severe lameness.
Dean said before starting any work, it was important to ensure the cow was balanced at the time she needs hoof trimming.
He has been demonstrating a range of ways to ensure the cow is balanced and her weight is supported. That includes how ropes and belly slings or supporting harnesses and pulley systems are used, as well as purpose-built cow lifters and cattle crushes.
Dean Rowley said up to 20 per cent of the lactating herd is lame, and good management should includes annual hoof inspections in the herd during drying off.
Photo by
Jeanette Severs
“Minimise the impact on the cow by doing little things right first,” Dean said.
“We want to put the cow back out in the paddock in better condition than she comes in to the crush.”
Other management impacts include using a footbath. Dean spoke about some cows in certain climates and conditions that do not lay down thickness in their sole, and a footbath can be used to address risk around this.
“It’s all one percenters that help the cow get through lactation.”
Digital dermatitis is very contagious and the farm policy should be to cull these animals.
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