Every farmer, at one point or another, deals with some case of lameness within the herd. Having a trustworthy hoof trimmer that does a good job is the first part of getting a grip on the problem, but sometimes lameness can be genetic. Lameness is defined as any abnormality that causes a cow to adjust the way it walks. This can be caused by a variety of reasons such as foot rot, digital dermatitis, laminitis, and claw disease. These reasons are the result of a handful of much larger issues like nutrition, disease, genetic influences, management, and environmental factors. Agriculture agent Eric Ronk highlighted the impacts that lameness can have on a farmer’s pocketbook in a University of Wisconsin-Madison extension article.
When thinking about the effects of lameness, most typically consider the cost that goes into the preventative measures or treatments such as trimming, bandages, blocks, and antibiotics. Sure, these all come with a hefty price tag, but we should also think about the economic impact it has on other areas of the operation such as fertility, culling, and labor programs, along with the reduction of overall milk yield.
Research has shown that lameness leads to lower milk yield. Cows are spending less time at the bunk which also means they are not consuming the same amount of dry matter, resulting in a direct loss in milk production. “A study from 2010, Archer et al., found that a severe case of lameness within the first month of lactation could reduce 305-day milk yield by 722 pounds. In a different study from 2008, Bicalho et al., estimated lameness could reduce 305-day milk anywhere from 692 to 935 pounds. The reduction in milk yield also depends on the type of lesion, with a sole ulcer causing the greatest reduction in milk,” cited Ronk.
As cows become lame, their chances of getting culled from the herd becomes much higher. Lameness can also cause cows to not cycle properly, fail to become pregnant, or lose a pregnancy. “When top-producing cows become lame and potentially culled from the herd, there is also the genetic impact from the lost potential daughters,” said Ronk. A literature review conducted by Willshire et al., noted that a sole ulcer lesion had the highest risk of culling when compared to other lesion types, sitting at a whopping 56%. In the same review, fertility impacts accounted for 39% of the total annual cost of lameness in a dairy herd, while milk yield and culling costs followed in a close second at 24%.
Lameness is going to happen, but it doesn’t have to be a common occurrence. Sit down and put pencil to paper on the economic impacts lameness has on your herd. Think of ways to improve cow comfort, avoid overcrowding, and develop a treatment plan. Communicate with your hoof trimmer to determine a better understanding of the situation and find a way to ultimately help your farm’s bottom line.
