Health guide

Hoof disorders

Lameness is one of the costliest problems on dairy farms. Some hoof disorders are driven by nutrition and cow comfort, others by infection and hygiene.

Laminitis

Coriosis

Nutrition-related

What is it?

Inflammation and damage of the corium, the living tissue that produces the hoof horn. It weakens horn quality and prepares the ground for sole ulcers and white line disease.

When & who is at risk

After calving, with SARA and sudden ration changes, long standing times on hard floors, heifers entering the milking herd.

Signs

Usually subclinical: yellow discolouration and haemorrhages in the sole seen at trimming weeks to months later. Acute cases: stiff walk, reluctance to move.

How to check

Record sole haemorrhages at every trimming; regular locomotion scoring.

Prevention through nutrition & management

Prevent SARA (effective fibre, starch control, consistent feeding); gradual ration changes; comfortable stalls so cows lie 12+ hours a day; biotin and adequate zinc support horn quality.

Herd target

Few sole haemorrhages at trimming; lameness prevalence below 10–15%.

SARA →

Sole ulcer

Rusterholz ulcer

Most common non-infectious

What is it?

A defect in the sole horn, typically at the junction of sole and heel on the outer hind claw, where the pedal bone presses on the corium.

When & who is at risk

60–120 days after calving; cows that lose a lot of body condition (thinner fat pad under the pedal bone); long standing times; overgrown claws.

Signs

Lameness, often on one hind leg; at trimming a red or open lesion at the typical site.

How to check

Locomotion scoring every 2–4 weeks; lesion records at trimming.

Prevention through nutrition & management

Functional trimming 1–2 times a year (e.g. before calving and around 100 days); limit BCS loss after calving; reduce standing time (holding pen, stall comfort); prevent laminitis.

Herd target

Sole ulcers found in under 5% of cows at trimming.

Body condition score →

White line disease

White line separation / abscess

Horn quality

What is it?

Separation of the white line, the softer junction between the sole and the wall. Dirt and stones enter the gap and an abscess can form.

When & who is at risk

Poor horn quality after laminitis, sharp turns on concrete, rough or slippery floors, pushing and crowding.

Signs

Sudden lameness, often on an outer hind claw; black spot or open track along the white line at trimming.

How to check

Trimming records; watch flooring and cow flow in alleys and the holding area.

Prevention through nutrition & management

Prevent laminitis; non-slip, well-maintained floors; calm handling without pushing; biotin (about 20 mg/cow/day) has been shown to reduce white line lesions.

Herd target

Few new cases between trimmings.

Digital dermatitis

Mortellaro’s disease, ‘strawberry’ lesion

Infectious

What is it?

A contagious bacterial skin infection (Treponema species) of the heel area, usually on the hind feet, just above the interdigital space.

When & who is at risk

Wet, dirty alleys and slurry; bought-in animals bringing the infection; heifers are often infected before first calving.

Signs

Painful, red, raw or ‘strawberry’ lesion with hair loss at the back of the foot; cows walk on their toes. Chronic lesions become thick and wart-like.

How to check

Inspect feet in the parlour with a torch and mirror; record M-stages (M0–M4.1).

Prevention through nutrition & management

Clean, dry alleys and frequent scraping; regular footbaths; early treatment of active lesions according to your veterinarian; quarantine and foot checks for bought-in animals; include heifers in the program.

Herd target

Few active (M1/M2) lesions at each check.

Foot rot

Interdigital phlegmon

Infectious

What is it?

A bacterial infection (mainly Fusobacterium necrophorum) of the skin and tissue between the claws, entering through small wounds.

When & who is at risk

Wet, muddy conditions, stony tracks, damaged skin between the claws; common in beef cattle and on pasture too.

Signs

Sudden, severe lameness; symmetrical swelling above the hoof so the claws spread; foul-smelling crack between the claws; fever and drop in milk.

How to check

Veterinary examination and early treatment (usually antibiotics) give the best recovery.

Prevention through nutrition & management

Drain and maintain tracks and gateways; keep standing areas dry; footbaths; adequate zinc and other trace minerals for skin integrity.

Herd target

Sporadic cases only.

Heel horn erosion

Slurry heel

Hygiene

What is it?

Irregular pits and V-shaped grooves in the heel horn, caused by bacteria in wet, dirty conditions; often seen together with digital dermatitis.

When & who is at risk

Long exposure to slurry, poor alley hygiene.

Signs

Usually mild lameness or none; in severe cases the heel is lost and the claw balance changes, leading to sole ulcers.

How to check

Assess heel horn at every trimming.

Prevention through nutrition & management

Frequent scraping, dry bedding and alleys, footbaths, regular trimming to keep claws balanced.

Herd target

Heels intact at trimming.

Interdigital hyperplasia

Corn, tyloma

Chronic

What is it?

A firm, tongue-shaped growth of skin and fat between the claws.

When & who is at risk

Heavy breeds and bulls, splayed claws, chronic irritation (including digital dermatitis); a hereditary tendency exists.

Signs

Often no lameness until the growth is pinched or infected.

How to check

Seen at trimming or when lifting the foot.

Prevention through nutrition & management

Control digital dermatitis, functional trimming; large or painful growths are removed surgically by a veterinarian.

Herd target

Rare.

This guide is educational and focuses on prevention through nutrition and management. Diagnosis and treatment of sick animals are the job of your veterinarian.

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