Healthy cows with healthy hooves are the most productive and efficient in a robotic milking system.
"Healthy feet are critical in a robot milking situation," said Jack Rodenburg from DairyLogix Consulting in Ontario, Canada, at the Wisconsin Frame Builders annual meeting. Both experience and research have shown that well-rested cows with problem-free hooves visit the robotic milking stall voluntarily and more often, he explained.
First, Rodenburg focused on barn design. "Make the barn layout so handling lame cows is simple," he said. "Don't forget to include an area where sick or lame cows can recover."
Footbath location is also critical. Footbaths placed at the exit of the robot may discourage robot use. A cow with hoof problems is also likely to visit the robot less frequently, which means she is not receiving the full benefits of the footbath.
Put footbaths in a remote crossover, Rodenburg advised, and once a week make sure all cows walk through it. A footbath in that location will be less disruptive and away from milk entering the bulk tank. In addition, the chemicals will stay stronger, and all cows will get through it, he said.
Rodenburg also encouraged producers with robots to learn something about hoof care themselves. "The right time to trim is the first time a cow doesn't come to the robot on her own," he said. A producer with some hoof-trimming abilities can handle problems as soon as they arise.
Healthy hooves can be achieved by keeping feet clean and dry, encouraging long lying times with comfortable stalls and minimizing unnecessary standing times, Rodenburg explained.
"Healthy cows make you labor efficient. Sick cows make you labor inefficient," he said.
