WHY HOOF HEALTH MATTERS?

 Lameness caused by hoof disorders is among the biggest challenges that face the dairy industry. Lameness is among the top three culling reasons after fertility and udder diseases. Hoof problems do not only cause pain and distress for dairy cattle, but also have a huge impact on the economy of dairy farms.
  
The costs related to lameness are enormous and include for example: 

· Fertility problems 
 · Veterinarian and medicine expenses
· Costs of preventive measures
· Lost milk production
· Culling costs
· Genetic impact from losing the potentially best-performing daughters
· Extra time and labor costs
Costs of common hoof disorders per severe case in the Nordic countries are estimated to vary from 60 to 1310 EUR. 

Have you thought about how much lameness costs your business?

If your goal is to have healthy, high-producing and invisible cows that stay in the herd for several years, hoof health is an important issue that you can’t ignore.

There are many factors that have an impact on hoof health and the prevention of hoof disorders. Hoof trimming is a common management practice among dairy farmers for curing and preventing hoof diseases. The environment also has a high influence on hoof health. Of course, management, for example, nutrition and feeding management and various preventive measures (e.g. foot baths, calcium hydroxide) have a high impact on hoof quality. However, genetics also play a key role in dealing with hoof disorders.

How can breeding improve hoof health? - Learn more
To learn more about our unique Hoof health index - Download PDF brochure
Hoof health