IMPROVE YOUR COWS’ LIFE TIME PRODUCTIVITY

Lameness is detrimental to animal

welfare and it is one of the three main

reasons for involuntary culling. As an

example, lameness costs 220 Euro or

300 USD per cas

“If I’m in pain

I can’t produce

milk”

1

LAMENESS IS NOT ALWAYS EASILY DETECTED

30 out of 100 cows are lame

but only 6 are detected

2

“Watch me daily

for early signs of

lameness”

It is better to bring a few extra

cows into the trimming chute for

examination than to miss cows

that need to be treated Prompt identification and

treatment of lame cows will result

in shorter healing times and less

negative effects on milk yield

“If I lie down a lot it

might be because of good

comfort but it can also

be caused by poor

feet and legs”

3

HOW TO MANAGE LAMENESS

It is central to both profitability and sustainability that cows can move

freely to eat, drink, go to the milking parlor, be social and rest

FEEDING TIME = 5 hours

MOVING TIME IN AISLES

& FEED AREA = 3 hours

STANDING TIME

IN CUBICLE = 2 hours

MILKING TIME = 2 hours

“Don’t let me wait

too long to be milked

and give me soft flooring”

4

SOFT AND DEEP BEDDING REDUCES LAMENESS

● Cover soft cow mattresseswith 2–3 cm of bedding

● Provide ample space to lie down and to stand up again

● Minimise lameness with soft deep-bedded stalls or packs of high hygienic standard

“Shiny metal bars is

a sign that there’s a

space shortage”

5

SOFT FLOORING IS BENEFICIAL

Invest in soft resilient flooring

with good-quality rubber.

Floors should provide sufficient

traction, be clean and dry, soft

and in good condition. Rubber

will improve walking

“I like rubber”

6

PERFORM FOOT BATHING

● Prevention of digital dermatitis (DD or foot warts) and other hygiene-related lameness requiresgood foot hygiene

● Foot baths should be properly maintained

7

PROPER CLAW TRIMMING

Proper claw trimming is an essential

component of lameness control

“I need to see

my pedicurist three

times a year”

8

TREATMENT

Have a

systematic

approach. Early

detection is crucial

for effective

treatment

Treatment of

digital dermatitis

is accomplished

on individual

cow basis

Treat acute

cases early to

avoid chronic

cases

9

© DeLaval 2014 Sources: www.delaval.com/HappyCows