Lameness, Tecnozoo’s Advice
LAMENESS: a sign of a locomotor system problem
Effect, cause, and response to the occurrence of multiple health and production issues
When considering lameness and foot diseases in dairy cows, it is important to keep in mind that in 80% of cases these affect the hind limbs, generally at the level of the outer claws.
Only in 20% of cases are the front limbs involved, and in these cases the problems are usually localized at the level of the inner claws.
Lameness: Focus on Dairy Farms
It is evident how the selective breeding of dairy cows aimed at increasingly higher production has achieved excellent results, but at the expense of a locomotor system that is increasingly fragile and delicate, and prone to lameness. Foot disease is the third leading cause of involuntary culling. Lameness is a reflex sign of an animal trying to relieve pain on a limb: the animal will tend to move as little as possible, and the most obvious consequence will be a decrease in feed intake and milk production, with the animal struggling to reach the feed trough.
Lameness: reduced appetite and impact on heat cycles
An animal suffering from lameness will have a reduced appetite due to the severe pain.
Moreover, being unable to move, the same animal may show heat less visibly, with a reduction in reproductive performance, and will also have a higher risk of developing other serious conditions, such as fractures and arthritis, with a high risk of death or emergency culling. When healthcare costs, increased workload, and losses from milk that cannot be sold due to treatments are added to this, it becomes clear that adherence to a proper protocol for the prevention of foot diseases is essential for good herd management.
Which products can be used for the prevention and support of lameness?
Tecnozoo has developed specific products for the prevention of lameness and for proper hoof hygiene:
Pomapodalik
Protective hoof ointment for the treatment of foot injuries and lameness.
To download the product datasheet or request a quote, send an email to service@tecnozoo.it or call (+39) 049-9350743.
Podalik plus
PODALIK Plus helps in hoof hygiene by immersing the extremity: the presence of Zinc and Copper salts supports the natural strengthening of hooves, while the other components, with their antibacterial action, assist and promote the healing processes of the foot and lameness.
Emphasize the remarkable disinfectant activity of glutaraldehyde, coupled with its minimal tissue-damaging effect on the foot (both soft and hard tissues), which makes it preferable to the use of formalin.
PODALIK PLUS can also be used via spraying.
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