This Little Moo Piggy Went to the Foot Bath

Yes, we specifically wash our cows’ feet.

Our girls get foot baths Monday through Thursday every week to prevent disease. We walk them through the foot baths one time for four days in a row to be more effective in killing bacteria that loves to find its way into the soft spots of their hooves. The bacteria appreciate the soft tissue between the toes and it grows even better when there’s moisture. That's 2,800 feet a day!

The girls are milked and then as they return to their freshly scraped free stall areas they walk through a solution of copper sulfate. 

Keeping the alleys clean where the girls walk is another weapon against hoof disease.

Bacteria grow better in a higher ph environment. The copper sulfate lowers the ph so the bacteria will die. The solution we use is 5% copper sulfate. The foot bath trays are measured and the amount of the powdered copper sulfate is calculated and mixed with water to create the 5% ratio.

The two most common hoof problems are digital dermatitis or hairy heel warts. These are treated by hoof trimming practices and management of the foot baths. If an abscess is discovered it is cleaned out and wrapped sometimes using a medication in the wrap or we use a shoe wood block. The wedge of wood is placed and taped to the hoof to relief pressure on the sore. You may notice the cows limping or holding their feet in an odd way to avoid putting pressure on the sore spot.

The other is foot rot. This one is more serious as the disease can enter the blood stream and travel through the animal causing other issues such as pneumonia. Foot rot is easily recognized by swelling of the hoof. With hoof rot, antibiotics are necessary to fight the disease. Another avenue for foot rot is through retained placenta. The bacteria can start there and travel through the animal resulting in foot rot. Also a new mama is more pre-disposed to this because her hormone levels change.

Both of these diseases are contagious by contact. Keeping the alley ways clean and hooves clean and treated are important to fight this battle.

It is routine for the girls to walk through the chute, into the baths and out the sorting gate and back to their free stall area.

This is one more thing we do to keep our girls healthy and happy.