Currently, the weather is starting to cool, and we have at last had some rain! However, this summer’s record temperatures will have an effect on cow’s feet going into the autumn.
Standing times in hot weather
Cows experience heat stress when the ambient air temperature rises above 22°C. When a cow lies down, its core body temperature rises and when it stands its core body temperature falls. Therefore, in hotter weather, cows have to spend more time standing and less time lying to regulate their body temperature. From a lameness point of view this is not great as the increased standing times can lead to a higher risk of sole bruising and if not treated quickly this can then lead to formation of sole ulcers.
Why does this matter now that the weather is cooling down? Sole bruising and ulcers are a cumulative disease of the foot. This means that rather than occurring quickly, it is a buildup of cows spending increased time on their feet.
Typically, there is a 6-8 week lag period between increased standing times and cows presenting lame caused by these lesions. Therefore, autumn is a key time for farms to be vigilant in managing the effects on mobility caused by the hot summer.
Managing lameness this autumn
EDPET (Early Detection, Prompt Effective Treatment) is a key strategy in managing lameness in cattle. This can be broken down into 2 stages of the treatment cycle.
Early Detection
As bruising and ulcers are different stages of the same disease, spotting lame cows as quickly as possible can make a massive difference to treatment outcomes. A cow with a bruised sole is much quicker and easier to treat than a cow with a sole ulcer. Also, the long-term effect of mild bruising is much less than when sole ulcers are diagnosed. One of the best ways to detect lameness early is to use mobility scoring. This is best done by observing cows when they exit the milking parlour as it is part of their daily routine, and they are more likely to show early signs of lameness.
Prompt Effective Treatment
Once a full herd mobility score has been done, any new lame cows (score 2 & 3) should be seen ASAP either by a member of staff trained to deliver first aid for feet, or a professional foot trimmer. If the affected foot is diagnosed with sole bruising (visual or using hoof testers) or a sole ulcer, the gold standard treatment is to apply a block to the sound claw and administer an NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief.
Studies have shown that this treatment protocol greatly increases a cow’s chances of returning to a non-lame status. Ideally any cows with a block applied should be rechecked 2-4 weeks after treatment.
Written By John Baggs, Vet Tech
