Hoof Care Essentials: Elevating Dairy Well-being

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The lack of proper hoof care can lead to lameness which is costly on a dairy farm, running up sky high vet bills. It impacts milk production, fertility, replacement animals, decreased feed intake, to name a few. From hoof trimming, flooring options in the barn to early detection of lameness – we dive into all these aspects in order to keep farmers to remain alert and well-informed when it comes to hoof care.

1 How often should dairy cows have their hooves trimmed?
2 Does nutrition impact hoof health of dairy cattle?

One common practice is to hoof trim at dry-off and then again at 100 days in milk. However, trimming every 6 months is acceptable. Record-keeping is key to maintaining proper trimming procedures.

Nutrition is a significant factor in healthy hoof growth. Some minerals, amino acids, and vitamins are involved in the keratinization process, which ensures healthy horn growth and the structural binding of keratin proteins. Mineral and vitamin (especially biotin) supplementation is associated with a reduction in the incidence of lameness in dairy cows.