We deal with lameness among our lactating cows more than we would like. But what if you were told that digital dermatitis begins long before cows enter milking herd? Digital dermatitis is the number one cause of lameness in bred heifers, equating to 70.9% of all heifer lameness events, wrote former extension educator Tina Kohlman in a University of Wisconsin-Madison extension article. To control digital dermatitis flare ups in your lactating herd, take preventative measures that begin in the heifer pen.

Heifers may not be housed in the most glamourous of set ups, making it easier for heifers to contract hoof issues. Repurposed buildings with ventilation and cleanliness challenges may be overstocked, making them more difficult to clean. This is the gateway for an abundance of manure and moisture to accumulate, exposing heifers to pathogens at their feet. To avoid this, keep feet as dry and clean as possible, scrape alleyways, reduce stocking density, and ensure that bedding is always clean and dry. This will ultimately encourage heifers to lie in their stall for longer periods of time, reducing the amount of time spent on their feet.

Some preventative measures put in place to reduce the amount of hoof events are the use of footbaths or topical treatments. If you are providing a topical treatment, the lesion should be clean and dry prior. On the flip side, if not properly maintained, footbaths can do more harm than good, Kohlman said. If the solution is not mixed to the proper pH or removed after use, footbaths can serve as a source of contamination.

Based on an individual first lactation yield, digital dermatitis can cost between $3 and $239 per cow. When it comes to digital dermatitis, do not wait extended periods of time for the hoof trimmer to assess the situation as this allows the heifer to spread the pathogens to others in the herd, which can become costly later. “Digital dermatitis is extremely difficult, if not impossible to eliminate; therefore, focus should be on managing and controlling digital dermatitis,” Kohlman said.