increase font size
Digital dermatitis.
Digital dermatitis is the most serious infectious cause of lameness in dairy cattle worldwide.
The disease now affects New Zealand dairy herds, says Richard Laven, associate professor in production animal health at Massey University.
Typically, digital dermatitis is found on the skin just above the interdigital space, and it may also be found along the coronary band. Digital dermatitis is most commonly found on the hind feet; fewer than 3% of affected cattle have lesions on the front feet only.
The classical lesion of digital dermatitis is a moist ulcer, Laven says.
However, digital dermatitis is a cyclical disease with lesions forming, healing and then returning, so it has multiple stages. The most persistent stage (often called M4) is a chronic thickening of the skin with rapidly spreading growths which can often resemble hairs (in some countries these are called hairy hoof warts).
In NZ the most common appearance of digital dermatitis is a small lesion less than 1 cm in size.
Larger lesions, either when they develop into ulcers or when they are growing, tend to be extremely painful
Digital dermatitis was first identified in Northern Italy in 1974, and is now reported worldwide.
The first NZ case occurred in 2004, with sporadic reports until around 2011 when the number increased markedly.
Many farmers have invested in solar energy for dairy sheds or houses, but little hard data exists on the viability of solar panels in open paddocks or the loss of drymatter this may cause. Massey University scientist Dr Sam Wilson is conducting research to get more information about this. Rural News reporter Peter Burke went to investigate.
There's been unprecedented demand from secondary school students across the country to study agricultural related subjects.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
Massey University is returning to the Fieldays with a future-focused, solution-driven theme, showcasing research that delivers practical advancements in agricultural efficiency, sustainability and longevity.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…
