Monitoring of Hoof Diseases in a Hungarian Dairy Cattle Herd

Abstract

Hoof and leg problems are an increasing and very expensive problem especially in the intensive dairy productions all over the world. Not only is the pain caused by bad hoof health a major welfare problem, but several studies have also pointed out the economic importance of hoof problems on farms. From the obvious initial treatment to the secondary expenses of a decreased feed intake due to the animals reduced ability to stand or walk to the feeding stalls, the milk yield and quality is also seriously affected, the effect on the cows reproductive performance, the reduced fertility and increased number of dry days has a massive economic significance on any dairy farm and finally the increased culling rates normally associated to the obvious decreased in performance but are secondary to lameness problems. On this farm containing 352 animals 23.29% of the animals were suffering from a hoof related lameness of which the majority had digital dermatitis, 70% of the infected animals. After an in-depth examination of the herd, it was the environmental conditions that were questioned. The unhygienic farm conditions and the absence of a foot bathing regime were the two highly significant areas of concern with regard to this farms condition.