Make sure foot rot doesn’t affect your bottom line
We have seen a wet spring in many places and with multiple days of rain in a row, cattle and other livestock will have softer hooves making them more suspectable to injury and foot rot.
“Foot rot can lead to cattle lameness, resulting in lost performance and profitability for your cattle operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
“Foot rot is caused by bacteria entering the compromised skin or hoof wall integrity,” says Davis.
There are several factors that lead to the compromised skin or hoof wall integrity including moisture, injury, disease and or nutrient deficiency. The wet weather has led to cattle and livestock spending more time standing in wet conditions and mud allowing bacteria to enter the soft tissue walls.
“Combination of skin or hoof irritation by rough surfaces and cattle standing in ponds, streams and or manure can increase foot rot,” he says.
Davis urges cattle producers to reduce the time cattle are standing on rough surfaces such as rocks, gravel and concrete to reduce foot rot. He also urges cattle producers to reduce the time cattle are standing in ponds, streams and or manure to help reduce foot rot.
“Trace minerals such as zinc, selenium and copper play a vital role in maintaining skin and hoof wall integrity,” he says.
Deficiencies in these minerals may lead to a higher incidence of foot rot. Davis urges cattle producers to ensure their cattle have free choice access to adequate levels of these trace minerals.
“Lameness is a typical symptom of foot rot,” says Davis.
This symptom is brought on by swelling and redness of interdigital tissue and adjacent coronary band. There will be a foul odor associated with foot rot from necrotic lesions in the interdigital space. Left untreated, the infection continues with swelling around both digits and the hairline of the hoof, causing separation of the claw.
“Since cattle lameness can influence performance and the operation bottom line, it is key to identify and treat foot rot immediately,” says Davis.
Veterinarians are helpful in symptom identification and treatment plans. Treatment plans should begin with problem identification, cleaning the foot and providing topical antimicrobial treatment. Pain relief might be recommended by the veterinarian. Improvement should be seen in three to four days. If not, consult your veterinarian for advice on further treatment options.
Preventative measures include keeping livestock out of muddy lots and rocky areas and creeks and ponds. Small livestock such as sheep and goats that spend time in an indoor barn setting will benefit from frequent bedding changes or addition of lime and fresh bedding. Maintain good hoof health on small livestock by keeping up on hoof trimming and culling those with chronic hoof problems. A vaccine is available as a preventative so consult with your veterinarian for the best practices.
