Displaying items by tag: lameness

Lameness takes toll on cows and farm performance. A lame cow produces less milk, loses condition and takes longer to cycle. The good news? Catching it early and treating it promptly gives her the best shot at a quick, full recovery — and helps keep your herd’s productivity on track.

The traditional method to approach lameness involves corrective trimming of the affected area.

According to the DairyNZ’s lameness cost calculator, lameness costs over $500 per lame cow – due to lost production, having to withhold milk from treated animals or reproductive problems.

DairyNZ has calculated that the cost of lameness in a 550-cow herd with 20% lame cows per year amounts to direct and indirect costs of $750 per cow.

Early detection of lameness is a crucial factor in maintaining a profitable and healthy dairy herd.

Lameness in dairy cows can have a significant effect on a businesses' bottom line, with vets suggesting that each case has a cost implication of $400-500, made up of increased labour, vet bills, drugs and of course lost production.

Fonterra says its Farm Insights Report sent out to farmers recently doesn’t benchmark lameness on shareholders’ farms.

This is the first article by Chris Balemi of Agvance, of a two-part series and covers cattle hoof make up, causes of lameness and what can be done to prevent lameness in cattle.

Lameness can cost farmers $500 - $1000 per case, yet farmers often underestimate its cost.

Moving promptly against lameness in cows deals to their pain and can reduce long term hoof damage, says Shoof International, which markets Walkease hoof blocks.