Hoof trimming twice a year is a good prevention strategy to com- bat serious hoof problems.
achieve this purpose, especially in high-yielding cows that consume the fat below the footpad, among other body fat sources, for milk production. This should prompt the provi- sion of soft rubber sheets to suppress shock of barn floors.
2. It was found that the provision of soft floors allows unrestricted movement of the animal inside the barn. The distance travelled by the animal in one step can reach 78cm on soft floors but only 58cm on hard concrete floors. Such unrestricted movement helps improve blood circula- tion in the living tissue of the animal’s hooves, thus provid- ing more protection for the hooves and increasing the abil- ity of their outer edges to carry the bulk of the animal’s weight (60%) while walking.
Nutrition Since hooves are composed mainly of protein and fats, it is obvious that animals must receive adequate levels of both crude protein and fatty acids. Fermentable carbohydrates should be used in limited amounts in cattle feeding, or the rumen microbes that produce lactic acid increase and the pH is reduced. As the rumen pH decreases, endotoxins can be produced and released which can trigger histamine release. This causes vasoconstriction, dilation, laminar destruction and hoof deterioration, and the laminitis process develops. Rapid diet changes can also cause a shift in rumen microbial populations, which may favour species such as Treponema, which play a role in digital dermatitis. By carefully
10 ▶DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 7, No. 3, 2020
formulating the diet and monitoring cow health, the occur- rence of poor hoof health can be minimised. Mineral nutrition also plays a vital role in hoof health. Calcium is required to activate the enzyme needed to form keratin and is also required for the process of creating crosslinks be- tween keratin fibres. Zinc is especially needed for cows with digital dermatitis infections or other lameness events. Zinc is very important for hoof growth and maintenance. It is an es- sential mineral in the formation of keratin and also influences calcium usage by the body. Copper is critical in forming crosslinks in the keratin that keep the hoof strong and hard. It is very important though to balance dietary copper and zinc, because too much zinc prevents proper copper utilisation and storage in the cow’s body. Vitamins A and D play a role in hoof growth and help main- tain a waterproof barrier on the outside of the hoof. Biotin, one of the B vitamins, is also important in hoof health. Provid- ing 20mg/day of supplemental biotin has been shown to cure sole ulcers quicker, reduce sole haemorrhages and reduce the incidence of interdigital dermatitis.
Grazing tips • Hoof infections are more common where pastures are on underlying clay than in sandy, chalky or limestone areas. Constantly wet hooves become soft and more easily dam- aged. Muddy ground with flints or small stones is the most dangerous since flints penetrate the hoof and allow
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