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Treating Lameness

If lameness occurs:
  • Examine the cow's feet as soon as possible after the cow is first seen to be lame. Prompt and appropriate treatment of even mild lameness can avoid more severe foot problems and reduce herd lameness dramatically.
  • Most (but not all) lameness occurs in the hind limbs. When lifting feet it is important to examine both left and right sides as lesions on one side are often mirrored on the other.
  • If you are not certain of what is causing the problem or if the problem persists, seek veterinary advice.
  • Isolate severely lame animals and house them on a bedded floor, rather than hard concrete.
  • Keep records of all treatments for lameness and use them to refine control of herd lameness and to identify chronically lame animals which should be culled.
  • It is against the law to transport an animal off the farm that can not stand up unaided or bear weight on all four limbs

 Foot Bathing

  • Foot bath as regularly as determined by the level of infectious lameness in the herd
  • Use of recommended solutions is an effective way of treating foot infections in cattle
  • Use a pre-wash (either a hose or separate water bath) to remove organic matter before entering the main foot bath.
  • Animals need to be set out to dry on free draining concrete for half an hour after treatment.
  • Treat severely affected individuals separately with topical application using a spray or bandage.

Foot Trimming

  • Regular foot trimming of cattle is essential for the management of lameness
  • Trimming should always be carried out by a skilled person. Poor foot trimming is itself a cause of lameness and can increase the risk of infection.
  • Trim feet of all cows at least once a year. Before drying off is an ideal time for this.
  • Ensure that contract hoof trimmers arrive with clean knives and equipment to reduce the risk of introduction of digital dermatitis.

Further information

Two free booklets are available from Defra:

PB4020 Lameness in dairy cattle

PB1151 Lameness in beef and dairy followers

For comprehensive information on lameness research, visit the SAC and University of Liverpool lameness site using the link to the right.

Contact

Dr Jill Offer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, Riverside Campus, University Avenue,
Ayr
KA8 0SX
TelWork 01292 886178
Fax 01292 886199

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Dr Dave Roberts
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Hestan House, The Crichton,
Dumfries
DG1 4TA
TelWork 01387 263961
MobileWork 07979 245890
Fax 01387 251789

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Dr Marie Haskell
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush,
Midlothian
EH25 9RG
TelWork 0131 651 9337
Fax 0131 535 3121

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