Icelandic Sheep: A Closer Look

By Antonio Pedulla

Icelandic sheep are an ancient breed of sheep. They have been bred for over a thousand years in the harsh interior of Iceland and now they are available to many sheep breeders around the world. Icelandic sheep were the only sheep available to the people of Iceland so they had to be a multi-purpose sheep breed. Many consider Icelandic sheep to be a triple-purpose breed of sheep. They can provide meat, wool and milk. Although they are almost exclusive bred for meat in Iceland. The lambs can weigh up to 90 pounds by 5 months of age and this is mostly on grass. The meat is said to have a delicate flavor unlike other wool breeds which tend to have a stronger flavor.

Icelandic Sheep, due to their history, are a very efficient breed of sheep to raise. Herd of these sheep were allowed to roam the hills of Iceland on their own during the winter months before they were brought in during the spring to lamb. These extreme conditions put a tremendous strain on the breed. This was definitely a survival of the fittest type situation. Only the hardiest and most efficient animals were able to survive the harsh winters to birth their lambs in the spring. The result of this natural selection is the breed of Icelandic Sheep we see today. A very low maintenance/high reward breed to have as part of a homestead.

Icelandic sheep are a wool breed but they roo or lose their undercoats in the spring making shearing somewhat optional yet it is still highly recommended especially in warm or hot climates. The wool can be separated into two parts, given the Icelandic names of Tog and Thel. The tog is the longer outer coat, this is a medium wool that can be used in weaving. The Thel, or undercoat, is a finer wool that can be used for knitting. This Thel is the part of the wool that sheds if the sheep is not sheared every spring.

As mentioned above, the Icelandic Sheep can also be used for milk production. They are not a true dairy breed, so they do not have the same lactation period and production amounts as dairy breeds of sheep but a small herd of ewes will produce plenty of rich milk for a small family. Milk which can also be used to make cheese and yogurt. A typical Icelandic sheep ewe can produce around 2 pints or 1 quart of milk a day, give or take. This is without the lamb suckling and they will produce like this for about 2 months. Some people remove the lamb at birth, feed them milk supplement and take all the mothers milk. This way the shepherd collects more milk per ewe. The lamb can also be left with the ewe full time for the first 1 to 2 weeks, then separated from the ewe at night and the ewe milked in the morning. Whichever method is chose, the Icelandic Sheep is a good source of milk for the homestead.

Once a rare breed in the US, the Icelandic sheep has been gain momentum. Many breeders can be found throughout the US and there are a few registries with breeder listings if you are looking for a breeder in your area. If you are looking for a breed that can be raised naturally, be very productive and provide your homestead with meat, fiber and milk than you need look no further than this astonishing breed.

For more information about raising sheep for milk please visit http://www.milkingsheep.com

Animal Recreation Centers/Spas

By Chris Pistorious

Your pet will enjoy a day at a rec center/spa as much as you do! Besides grooming, other amenities can include exercise programs, pools for year-round swimming, and training programs.

The grooming process can be a positive experience for your pet. It's best if you can arrange for the same groomer for each visit - animals like routine. Safety tools, like gentle restraining straps around the tummy, to prevent falling off tables, or jumping out of bathtubs, should be in place. Look for spa attendants to be attentive and affectionate towards your pet.

Special needs should be recognized. Older pets are sometimes less likely to adapt to being groomed - they may find it uncomfortable because of arthritic problems. Time outs may help, or, on the other hand, a "zoom groom," may be best to get things over and done with ASAP.

Puppies should go for their first grooming at about 16 weeks of age. Take your puppy to a spa that acknowledges the importance of the first trip to the groomer. It can set the tone for lifetime grooming habits.

Basic services to be expected with a grooming session are bathing, nail clipping, and combing/brushing. Extras, like medicated baths, hot oil treatments, de-shedding, brushing teeth, and using mouthwash, are usually offered at an extra charge.

Training may consist of groups and individual classes at the center, and home lessons may also be offered. Teaching your pet to sit, stay, and heel are the basics. Some programs may go beyond obedience, and opt for sports outings, chasing, and retrieving. Some experts contend that exercise leads to good pet behavior.

Some dogs take to water. "Open swims" are offered at some rec centers, for pets and owners alike. Instruction in safety measures come before this activity, and then swim times are scheduled.

There are some requirements that must be met before your pet can be welcomed at a rec center/spa. Application forms are the norm, and will ask for vaccination records, medical history, any physical limitations on your pet, if there is a history of aggressive behavior, and whether your pet is used to being around other animals. Pets with fleas or ticks will not be accepted, collars and tags are asked for.

Ask friends and fellow pet owners for any feedback from rec center/spas that they have used. A good recommendation could lead you to the right facility for you and your pet.

In Our Animal Hospital, animals are part of the family, so we have the best medical services by our serving staff in our pet care centers these are located in Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch. We are well located as:lone tree veterinarian and castle rock veterinarian.

The Importance of Marking Livestock

By C M Baker

The branding of livestock dates back to ancient Egyptian and Roman civilisations, and has long been used as a method for identifying ownership of animals kept in open-grazing environments. In many western states of the United States brands must still be registered, and form the primary method of determining livestock ownership. However, marking livestock is no longer limited to branding, with modern techniques such as ear marking, visual ear tagging, RFID ear tagging and rumen boluses (ceramic capsules administered orally to cattle) performing a similar role.

Although techniques may have changed, the primary purpose of marking livestock remains a method for identification. As systems have developed, the uses of identification have extended beyond ownership disputes. In Australia, ear tagging and marking now form the basis of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), the system used for tracing cattle, sheep and goats for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes. Similar systems exist in other countries, such as the National Animal Identification System in the United States, the British Cattle Movement Service, and the National Animal Identification and Tracing system being developed in New Zealand.

Under the NLIS, cattle must be marked with an ear tag or a combination of a rumen bolus and visual ear tag. Sheep and goats are marked with a visual ear tag or an RFID ear tag. Branding of livestock is also included within the NLIS in Western Australia, and the requirement for ear marking varies by state. It is intended to ensure the safety and quality of meat by tracking livestock from birth to slaughter. For example, all cattle treated with a hormonal growth implant must be permanently identified with a triangular ear mark in the middle of the right ear. Furthermore, marking livestock in this way allows for a database of animal residency and interaction with other animals to be kept. This aids in disease identification and management, and can help prevent widespread outbreaks.

In addition to differentiation of livestock between farms, forms of livestock marking are important to differentiate livestock within farms. Numbering systems using neck chains, nose printing, tattooing and electronic systems are common for identifying individual animals within a farm. This may be required to keep track of the age of animals, and also assists in identification in sale rings or during exhibiting shows.

Branding remains particularly important for identifying breeds of horses, such as Thoroughbreds, Stock Horses and Arabians. It is required by regulations in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, among other countries. Branding of horses is usually performed by freeze branding, altering the pigment of the hair.

Livestock branding and marking has evolved from a simple system for identifying ownership to a complex RFID and electronic-based tracking. While ownership is still an important part of livestock marking, new technology has significantly extended its usefulness. It is now a vital part of strategies developed to ensure the quality and safety of meat, and to prevent the spread of disease.

For more information on marking and identification of livestock please visit http://www.thefarmstore.com.au or follow the link tohttp://www.thefarmstore.com.au/marking-identification

The Basics of Hoof-Care for Large Animals

By C M Baker

Close attention to the health of your animals' hooves can make a significant difference to the productivity and performance of your farm. For example, cows with poor hoof health are less likely to walk, will have less desire to move to a feed bunk and consequently gain less weight or produce less milk. Treatment for animals in discomfort or lame animals can be a significant expense. In extreme cases, poor hoof-care can lead to lameness and early culling of farm animals. Some hoof problems are unavoidable, but a strong hoof-care system can reduce the regularity of incidents.

Cleaning
Animals such as cows, sheep, goats, pigs and horses all need to have their hooves cleaned regularly. A hoof pick is required for adequate cleaning. It is used in a toe-to-heel direction to remove material deposited in the sole of the hoof, under shoes on horses, and in the clefts of the frog. During cleaning, you should also inspect hooves for any foreign material that may have penetrated the hoof.

Trimming
Hoof trimming is required to prevent hooves from growing excessively long, resulting in curled up toes and discomfort for the animal when walking. It is important to establish a regular hoof-trimming schedule that meets the needs of your animals. The regularity of trimming will depend on several factors, including the type of animal, the nature of the surface that they are kept on, and seasonal factors. In general, hooves should be trimmed between once every four weeks and once every six months. The purpose of trimming is to restore the natural shape of hooves, in which the bones sit within the hoof at approximately 50° to the ground. In a well-trimmed hoof, the weight-bearing surfaces should be the outer edge of the hoof wall, the outer part of the sole of the foot and part of the heel.

Hoof Wounds
Regular trimming and cleaning will help limit problems such as foot rot and laminitis. Environmental damage such as rock bruising and nail or wire punctures are not serious issues. However, all hoof wounds should be treated with an antibacterial and antifungal agent regardless of their origin. Such treatments are commonly available from livestock stores.

Nutrition
Proper nutrition is vital to ensuring that hoof growth is healthy and maintained at an optimal rate. Ensuring that your animals' diet contains sufficient nutrients such as zinc and biotin is necessary for the growth of strong hooves. This is an important base for a successful hoof-care programme.

The most common hoof-care problem is simply a lack of attention from livestock owners. Creating a schedule of regular maintenance, combined with a healthy nutritional regime, will limit the amount of hoof problems that your animals experience. Although it may be an effort to implement such a programme, it will pay dividends in the end as your animals become healthier and more productive, eventually leading to a more profitable farm.

The Farm Store provide a large range of hoof-care and farming products online. For more information please visithttp://www.thefarmstore.com.au or http://www.thefarmstore.com.au/hoofcare-large-animal.

Goat Farming: Getting Back to Basics

By C M Baker

Whether you're interested in goat farming to raise pets, or start a meat or dairy operation, it can be both enjoyable and profitable. To ensure your goat farm is a success, consider the following ideas about suitable geography, breeds, essential tools and caring for goats.

Geography

Spaces for feeding, shelter and milking are critical factors in raising healthy, happy goats. As a guide, average sized-goat farms with 500-600 goats require 40 hectares of land, while small herds with 24 goats need about 10 acres. Your farming land should be able to support a herd without them being overcrowded.

Also survey the plant life which surrounds the potential farm. Goats are known as foragers in brush environments, and some plants such as azaleas are toxic to them if consumed.

Choosing a breed

The breed you decide on will depend on your purpose for farming. Some popular goat breeds include:

• Nubian - often used for dairy, and is also a meaty goat which makes it good for dual purpose breeding;
• La Mancha - a small diary goat;
• Boer - a South African goat frequently used for meat;
• Angora and Australian Cashmere - these goats can supply you with mohair and cashmere.

When buying your primary livestock, be sure to check whether the goats have been wormed and vaccinated, if their coat is shiny and eyes are clear, and if they are eating and drinking regularly -these are all signs of a healthy herd.

Tools of the trade

In addition to the land and livestock, other items important for goat farms include:

• Hay and feed
• Tubs and containers to feed and drink from
• Hoof trimmers
• De-wormers
• Syringes, needles and vaccines
• Brushes
• Collars and leads
• A sheltered structure, such as a shed or barn
• Milking equipment

With goats able to climb and crawl, it's also vital to have a sturdy fence. For small-scale farming, netwire fencing should be fine, but for a larger herd, stronger materials may be necessary.

Minding goats

Once born, it's ideal for baby goats to be fed by their mothers, so that they get the colostrums which contain essential antibodies, vitamins and minerals. Then, at 7 months old, a goat will be ready to breed, though this generally happens between 10-12 months. Mating season is an intensive time, taking place once a year between January through to March, and pregnancy then lasts for four months. Female goats normally give birth to between one and five kids. At 12-18 months old, goats come in to milk, and should be milked twice per day. Bear in mind that they will need to be regularly inspected for parasites and disease.

Understanding the geographical needs, differing breeds, the tools of trade and life stages of goats will set you on your way. These are the key aspects and basics involved in goat farming -we wish you a rewarding experience.

For more information on goat farming or supplies for your animals you can visit Seven Hills Tallarook online athttp://www.sevenhillstallarook.com.au/ or http://www.sevenhillstallarook.com.au/dev-farm.

Hoof Hygiene for Today and Tomorrow

By L R Lindsay

These days many producers still fail to see cow hoof disorders as a problem and often look back at the past 30 years for future guidance.

The footbath made a grand entrance in the early 1970s. And today one is still working with this concept.

Regular cow hoof care maintenance helps prevent cow hoof problems from reaching a drastic point where cows must be put down. Hence, where animal welfare is concerned, preventive hoof-care treatment should be viewed as an obligation. Moreover, the cows quickly reward this care with higher milk production.

The decision to trim the hooves on a regular basis is one that the dairy farmer will have to make on his own. He can either tend to this job himself, or ask a professional cow hoof trimmer or have his veterinarian do it. It is generally assumed that producers or recognized cow hoof trimmers who tend to do this job themselves have had the proper training for this and also for animal welfare, so that they can identify the cow hoof injuries and treat the cow accordingly.

Many cattle farmers assume that their job is done as soon as they have taken care of the hooves. This is not the case, unfortunately. By registering the injuries detected in each cow hoof at every stage of a check-up, the roots of any disorder can be found and the appropriate treatment sought.

There are many potential causes, for example poor nutrition, ill-proportioned freestalls, overcrowding, excessively abrasive floors in the freestalls, bad floors, excessive manure in the freestalls and on the alleys of the cow barn, excessively moist climate in the cowbarn, inordinate amount of sludge and pebbles in the herd collection pen in front of the cowbarn, around the water-trough or around the alleys to the pastures. The timely detection and efficient handling of these factors should, in time, greatly improve the state of the relevant herd's hoof health in its entirety.

Cow Mobility

Cow mobility is most essential to yielding good production. Various disorders reduce cow mobility.

These disorders can be roughly broken down into three categories. The first is mechanical damage; the direct cause of this is poorly designed or maintained stalls and alleys. These two elements can cause sole ulcers and whiteline defects or other kinds of cow hoof damage.

Another category is diseases that are related to inadequate feeding and nutrition. Nutrition plays a key role in an animal's well-being; one of the locations where the effects of dietary ration make their appearance is on the hooves, for example with claw deformation.

The last category relates to hygiene and the influence of parasites on cow hooves.

To fight this, much care and attention must be given to the climate in the cow facility and cow hoof cleanliness. This is where the footbath has made its most important contribution.

With the introduction of the loafing shed in the late 60s much light was shed on cow hoof-related problems, which have just been snowballing ever since.

To help contain this hoof problem, a sprinkling of lime was strewn on the free-stall bed to keep claws dry and hard. Very quickly the insides of the stalls were also strewn with a layer of lime. A footbath was then developed for the preventive and curative treatment of the animals. Over the years, this cow hoof bath has been developed into a bath with a profiled bottom no less than two meters in length. Otherwise, the bath is no different than it was then.

Various disinfectants have been used, some more effective than others, but all afflicted with the same problem- drastic reduction of effectiveness as soon as the solution in the footbath is contaminated.

There are two causes of contamination. Firstly, the animals' legs are dirty and some of this dirt is left behind in the bath.

Secondly, the animals excrete manure in the bath, which introduces a large amount of organic material into the bath. In time, the solution in the cow hoof bath turns more organic in nature, whereby the last (most crippled) animals stepping into the bath walk through a manure filled, rather than a disinfectant, bath.

Animals can excrete manure in the new Intra Bath footbath without fear of contaminating the disinfecting solution.

This can be done by making a pit grid in the middle of the cow hoof bath. The largest portion of manure, about 70%, therefore will not land in the bath.

The biggest advantage to this is that the cow hoof solution will remain effective for a longer period of time. More cows can walk through the bath before it needs to be refreshed. The shape of the new bath is designed to retain much of the original solution when the cows walk through it. This means that the liquid level will remain constant for a longer period of time so the last cows can also benefit from a marginal amount of liquid. The cow hoof bathing process takes place in two large steps, making a simple cleansing possible. Last, but certainly by no means a less important point, is that no liquid will accumulate in the centre, therefore one need use a smaller amount of the effective substance of choice every time. This not only benefits the environment but also your pocket.

Favourable effects on hoof health

A formalin solution and/or copper sulfate is usually sprinkled in the footbaths used today. Both substances exhibit favourable effects of cow hoof health.

Formalin is reasonably resistant to organic contamination, the likes of which are found in these types of tubs. Unfortunately, the formalin's effectiveness quickly diminishes when temperature drops below 15 degrees. Another adverse effect is that it induces cancer.

Copper sulfate is an effective bacteria killer, but it is, unfortunately, also very detrimental to the environment. There have been cases where the copper content of the soil has increased to a shocking level.

New Products

There is a gel called Hoof-Sol that has recently been recognized as an ideal approach to cow hoof treatment, and it is used by many producers, feed suppliers, cow hoof trimmers, and veterinarians to make/keep cow hoof disorders manageable. This treatment is a good option if you are looking for a better solution than cancer inducing or otherwise harmful chemicals.

The combination of bath and solution appears to be a unique concept for managing cow hoof disorders in modern dairy farming. A once-weekly walk through the bath will reduce your animals' hoof problems noticeably.

Keep up with the latest news in cow hoof treatments.

How Often Should You Run a Footbath

By L R Lindsay

We had a wet spring in our area which we can notice in the hoof condition of our herd. We got our fair share of lameness and I would like to know how often we should run our footbath. Could you give me some guidelines?

I have a starting question to determine the urgency of the situation: how many lame cows are in your herd and what is the cause of lameness?

Our nations' lameness average is around the 30% mark at any given time, which is a dazzling number if we take into account the total of 10 million dairy cows in North America. The most common way is to run only footbaths to control cow hoof lameness and if that doesn't take care of it, then a more intensive approach will be taken. This is either trim the cow hoof to salvage or just cull the animal.

Looking forward to the future, I would like to spell out a more economical approach which will

give instant results and satisfaction. I have seen phenomenal results and it's a 'gold mine'. Here

are some steps to follow:

1. Create a bench mark; how many cows in your herd are actually lame? A great and economical way to determine this number is by trimming (or getting them trimmed) all animals in the group. Make also sure to have a preventive trimming program in place, which should be discussed with a professional cow hoof trimmer. After that, stay focussed by spraying all the back feet (of the whole herd) with the Hoof Sol Liquid and select all animals that are lame to be checked in the next day. This spraying is recommended to be done every week ensuring proper coverage until full control is accomplished.

2. Understand the cause of lameness. There are infectious and non-infectious cow hoof diseases; the treatment for either is different. The cause of cow hoof lameness at your neighbour's farm is not necessarily the same as the one you are dealing with.

3. Use a sharp knife to properly trim a foot and treat any heal warts (Digital Dermatitis) by using the Hoof Sol Gel.

4. Use the Hoof Sol Gel on trimming day to brush on every back foot as a preventive measure after being cleaned with a towel. You spend your time and money to lift the foot, but what are we doing that's preventive to battle cow hoof lameness? The foot is clean and you can actually see what you are doing here. Use this great opportunity to prevent lameness in your herd.

5. Run a footbath, starting with 2 days every week and after gaining control, 2 days every other week. This method is the final step in the cow hoof protocol, and does not replace any of the preceding steps. There are many baths and various cow hoof bath products on the market and these should always be used according to the manufacturers' recommendations. Some need a daily approach, others are twice weekly; some are corrosive, while others cause irritation and are very harsh for your own health. You also need to note the danger of environmental contamination caused by dumping the contents of the cow hoof baths onto fields. Antibiotic resistance in animals and humans is also a concern. Do some shopping and ask your cow hoof trimmer or veterinarian for advice.

I hope that this gives you a little overview. Let me know if this plan works for you and your herd.

Please feel free to forward any further questions to questions@allabouthooves.com

Keep up with the latest news in cow hoof treatments: http://www.diamondhoofcare.com/join-our-newsletter

Cow Hoof Footbaths: What You Should Know

By L R Lindsay

I was recently approached by a producer who had begun to question the ultimate success rate of the footbath method and how to measure the return on investment. He felt frustrated and overwhelmed: He had used the footbath so often and yet he still had an unacceptable rate of lameness in his herd. I would like to explore this issue further in this article. To give a better overview, I've split this topic into various headings.

1. The method itself: the use of the footbath.

The footbath method has been used in the dairy industry for over 40 years and some positive and negative experiences have been gained over this time period.

• On a positive note, the footbath has a definite place in a lameness prevention program. Properly used footbaths that are cleaned regularly are an asset for most dairies. The most important aspect is not the footbath itself, though, but the records that go with the footbath management. Someone should be in charge of monitoring cow hoof lameness at any given time: recording the cause and treating the individual animals by trimming or wrapping the feet. And what about the follow-ups: did the animals recover? Use these recordings for fine-tuning your cow hoof footbath protocol to optimize the prevention of lameness.

• Foot bathing is often seen as a 'time-saver': "there are only 24 hours in a day and we cannot always take care of our lame cows." Research has shown that, at any given time, 25-30% of cows in North America are lame, which indicates that the footbath method is not sufficiently effective and that there are some challenges to overcome.

• Often cow hoof footbaths are used as a method to treat lameness instead of being part of a prevention approach. When the herd is showing some lameness, the cause is assumed to be an infectious disease (foot rot, heel warts) and the footbath is put in place or used religiously for a while. But really, what is the cause of cow hoof lameness? Not all lameness can be 'fixed' or prevented by using a footbath. Do you have a plan in place for the cows that remain lame even after an extensive use of any footbath method? Or better yet, treat all lame cows before you run a footbath program. This gives you some benchmarks to judge the successfulness of the footbath over a period of time and provides a focus to take care of the causative factors in a more effective way, either by adjusting cow hoof foot bathing protocols or cow hoof trimming frequency.

• The footbath gets polluted very fast, so that the first cows get the benefit and the last cows have to walk through the dirty solution. As a matter of fact, your lame cows, the slower group, are the ones that end up with the most contaminated bath and they are the ones that need the cow hoof bath treatment the most.

• I've seen a lot of herds where the cows are reluctant to walk through any type of footbath. When this method is used in a herd with lameness and the solution being used is very harsh on the animals' feet, what does it do to the animals? If a sole ulcer or even a cow hoof heel wart (both are exposed lesions) are brought into contact with a solution that causes stinging, I guarantee that this cow will remember and try to avoid that footbath for the rest of her life! Footbaths are not the ultimate treatment baths! If you know that the animal is lame, deal with the individual cow hoof problem as you would with mastitis. The results and benefit will be much greater.

• Most cow hoof footbath solutions are quickly mixed before milking and placed in a return lane from the milking parlor, which is the most logical place. But what about the person handling the various products? Are the cow hoof products safe for the user? Could the fumes be hazardous? As a cow hoof trimmer, I've smelled formaldehyde the whole day because it had been used in the footbath: maybe we should be wearing masks when doing our trimming job to protect ourselves from the fumes.

• In some areas, field contamination is also becoming a factor. All the footbath solutions have to be dumped and where do all those chemicals end up?

2. Lameness: not judged by everyone in the same way.

Not every producer judges lameness in the same way. Some 'allow' some lameness to occur, while others have a sleepless night if one cow is not walking right. Therefore, I refer to the Zinpro lameness scoring chart to get everyone on the same page regarding the definition of lameness ( http://www.zinpro.com/lameness/dairy/locomotion-scoring ). On the other hand, be honest and monitor the cows' gait: you know what hurts, you can see when she is content, and you know you're happy when milk production is good. It's a fact that a lame cow will not produce very well. Some speak about 'acceptable levels of lameness', but really, don't get too complacent: the truth is that cow hoof lameness increases if left to itself. Please shoot for zero percent lameness in your herd: anything above that is a loss. Standardizing lameness scoring is therefore a must for judging the success of any foot bathing method used in your herd.

3. How to use the footbath in a better way

Nevertheless, footbaths are an essential part of the total cow hoof care protocol. The best way to get ahead in the 'lameness challenge' is to:

1) Find any lame cow in your herd and take care of her ASAP by lifting the foot. She needs your help to be able to perform to her best capacity and she will reward you with better production. I've seen larger herd owners that challenged their employees on this. They rewarded them with a bonus per lame cow found and treated in the cow hoof-trimming chute. Eventually you'll notice that the employees really are 'sniffing' for lameness to get their bonus, but guess what - the herd owner is getting the benefits.

This 'individual approach' is the most important part of the cow hoof care protocol. It is like mastitis with milking: the sooner you get it solved, the better the success rate. And, of course, just as post-dipping the teats is important to prevent mastitis, so is foot bathing for the feet to prevent lameness. However, if other aspects in management are failing, you can teat-dip as much as you want, but mastitis will still occur. The same happens with foot bathing: it's only one aspect of the total cow hoof care program.

2) The next procedure is a topical spray, which is used on all back feet. This spraying ought to be done once per week and it's a great way to focus on the cow hoof health of your herd. When using this method, you should also make sure to have a notepad or whiteboard in the parlor. This gives you the opportunity to write down the numbers of all cows that are not walking correctly and to bring them to the hoof trimming table to get this corrected. As I've stated before, have a reward system in place to encourage your milkers to find the lame cows. It will be rewarding for them, but more so for you as the herd owner.

If the above steps do not cover the lameness challenges completely, then perhaps you should consider adding a well-managed footbath as an additional preventative method. Run these cow hoof protocols for a while and fine-tune them on the go. You'll notice that the more intense cow hoof care approach will give you a great Return on Investment.