Hoof Health and Reproduction

What causes hoof disease?

Causes of non-infectious hoof disease - which can influence the hoof health of the entire herd - include nutrition imbalances, housing management, level of exercise, cattle behavior and the environment. Systemic illness, increasing age, poor conformation and stage of lactation also can contribute to non-infectious hoof disease in individual animals.

Two common causes of infectious hoof disease include interdigital necrobacillosis (foot rot) and digital dermatitis (hairy heel warts). Foot rot is caused by bacteria that live in wet, muddy environments. Cows standing in this kind of environment for extended periods of time have unhealthy tissue between their hooves, which allows bacteria to enter. Fortunately, there are several antibiotics approved for use in lactating dairy cattle are effective against foot rot.

Hairy heel warts are a little tougher. Presumably caused by an organism called a spirochete, they can be treated by cleaning the affected area and applying a tetracycline wrap. For the entire herd, a solution of 8 grams of tetracycline per liter of water may be sprayed on the heels.

Using a well-managed footbath can help control hoof disease. Common footbaths are 5 percent copper sulfate, and 5 percent formalin or 20 percent zinc sulfate.

Which animals are susceptible to hoof disease?

Early-lactation cows are more likely to experience hoof disease than late-lactation animals. First-calf heifers seem most susceptible.

A sudden increase in nutritional energy, housing changes, establishment of a new pecking order within the cow herd and poor uterine health are all causes of metabolic stress. Cattle may respond to stress by releasing histamine or toxins into their blood stream. Unfortunate-ly, these substances may damage the blood vessels within the hooves and predispose them to the development of laminitis or sore feet.

Hormonal fluctuations during calving also may influence the development of hoof disease. The hormone relaxin assists with calving by increasing the elasticity of fibrous tissues in the birth canal. Relaxin may have a similar effect on the fibrous tissues within the hoof, permitting the third phalanx (pedal bone) to move downward, causing damage to the sole¹.

How does this relate to reproduction?

Hoof disease, while seemingly simple, can result in a domino effect of problems. For example, when a first-calf heifer enters the milking string, her routine changes completely. She has new feed, new herdmates and a new surface on which to walk, and is handled differently. Even if she had an uneventful calving experience, these factors alone can create stress. Add calving problems to that, and she'll find it difficult to get on the right track.

Anatomy of a Bovine Claw
 

In a vicious circle of events, this stress predisposes her to developing foot problems. Now she's not only stressed from a change of routine, but hoof problems also compound her problems. She stops going to the bunk to eat because it hurts to walk and stand to eat. She becomes metabolically stressed, which slows her estrus cycle.

Common sense tells us that when cows are in heat, those with hoof problems may not stand or ride simply due to the pain of being on their feet. And, even when these cows are in heat, their stressed metabolism makes it that much harder to become pregnant.

Research suggests lame cows with hoof lesions were approximately 52 percent less likely to conceive than non-lame cows

. In addition, the number of breedings per conception was significantly higher in lame cows with hoof lesions than in non-lame cows (five compared to three). The median time to conception was 40 days longer in lame cows with hoof lesions when compared to healthy cows.

The post-partum female also is susceptible to developing ovarian cysts. Research suggests lame cows within 30 days post-partum are nearly three times more likely to develop ovarian cysts prior to the first breeding than non-lame cows

.

In addition to the management tips shown in Table 1, routine hoof trimming can help alleviate problems associated with poor hoof health.

The goals of trimming hoofs are to restore the normal claw shape and weight distribution, to remove unhealthy horn tissue and to treat any detectable problems. Prior to trimming, animals should be evaluated both standing and walking. Look for deficiencies in toe shape and structure, as well as any reluctance to place full weight on an individual limb or toe. Then restrain the animal to maximize the safety of both the patient and the trimmer.

This depends on many factors, such as existing prevalence of hoof disease, environmental conditions and on-farm management. Consult your local veterinarian or professional hoof trimmer for trimming recommendations.

Prevention is key to maintaining healthy feet in dairy cattle. In addition to routine trimming, listed below are several things you can do to help your cows remain healthy.

• Maximize cow comfort. Housing management is a significant contributing factor to healthy hooves. When possible, gradually introduce cattle from pasture to concrete lots. Keep resting areas properly maintained so cows will lay down, and provide adequate space for resting, walking, eating and drinking to help avoid adverse social interactions, which can result in hoof damage from quick or rough movement.
• Keep feeding areas and alleys clean. Overexposure to manure and urine can erode heels, so keeping animals from standing in these materials can help prevent problems.
• Maintain a well-balanced, consistent ration. A sudden increase of concentrates, such as corn or soybeans, can cause a rapid decline in rumen pH, or rumen acidosis. Acidosis may lead to the death of gram-negative bacteria, causing toxins to be released into the bloodstream. The toxins damage blood vessels in the corium, resulting in fluid leakage and then pain (laminitis).
• Treat other conditions accordingly. Any systemic disease (uterine infection, pneumonia, digestive problems) can result in the release of histamine and/or toxins into the bloodstream, which can ultimately lead to laminitis.