BONUS SPRING SUMMER 2025

Lameness: a pain for cows and farmers Sarah Harrison – Technical Advisor: Dairy Lameness is a significant issue affecting dairy farms worldwide, not only compromising the health andwellbeing of cows, but also leading to considerable financial losses for farmers. As temperatures rise and environmental conditions change with the approach of summer, the risk of lameness increases, making hoof care a top priority. Proactively addressing lameness and implementing preventativemeasures can help reduce its impact, ensuring healthier cows and sustained farmproductivity. This article will provide an in-depth explanation of the various effects that lameness can have on a dairy herd, including its impact on cow health, milk production, fertility, and overall farm productivity, while also offering a range of preventative strategies and practical solutions that farmers can implement to minimise these issues and promote better hoof health and herd welfare. Understanding the impact of lameness Lameness in dairy cows is a clinical symptom, recognised by an altered gait, usually associated with painful hoof lesions. The primary consequence of lameness is a decline in milk production. Cows experiencing hoof pain change their eating habits, reducing both the time spent feeding and the frequency of eating. Although some cows might initially compensate by consuming feed more quickly, severe lameness ultimately limits their feed intake, affecting milk production. The ripple effect of lameness • Fertility challenges: Lameness can disrupt a cow’s estrus cycles, decrease fertility, and increase the likelihood of pregnancy loss. • Increased culling rates: Cows experiencing chronic or severe lameness are often culled early due to the ongoing costs of treatment and their reduced productivity. This increases a farm’s need for replacement cows, adding time and financial costs. • Significant economic losses: The financial impact of lameness is multifaceted. Direct costs include veterinary consultations, hoof trimming, labour, and discarded milk. Indirect costs include decreased milk production, reduced fertility, and increased culling rates. Preparing for summer: preventative strategies for hoof health Preventing lameness is absolutely crucial for maintaining the overall health, wellbeing, and productivity of dairy cows, and adopting a proactive approach becomes even more essential as the summer months approach, bringing with them a unique set of challenges such as fluctuating temperatures, changes www.agribonus.co.za Spring/Summer 2025 BONUS 69