A number of issues collide in autumn which can lead to an increase in lameness incidences in spring-calving, grass-based dairy farms.

One factor is that the sole of cows’ feet thin as the season goes on. This happens in the same way as the sole of a shoe gets thinner with the more walking done.

A thin sole is easier to penetrate than a thick sole, which offers more protection to the cow. Therefore, it is easier for stones and other foreign objects to get lodged in cows’ feet.

In autumn and particularly over the next two months, all the farm is available for grazing, which means that cows will be walking further to reach paddocks. All of this additional walking puts pressure on cows’ feet.

Weather

Another factor is that as the weather gets wetter and daylight hours decrease, farm roadways tend to remain wetter for longer.

Walking on wet roads is more difficult for cows and often there can be loose stone on wet roads or stone that is easily disturbed and comes away with the foot after being walked on.

All of these issues combine to make autumn a high-risk period for lameness.

Preventing lameness is difficult and there is no magic bullet.

Footbathing with a product to harden the hoof is seen as an effective treatment by some farmers and vets.

Others say that these products only have a very small benefit when it comes to reducing injuries and that footbathing is more effective against bacterial and other infectious diseases of the hoof.

It’s worth remembering that the vast majority of lameness on Irish farms is injury related

It’s worth remembering that the vast majority of lameness on Irish farms is injury related.

Keeping roadways dry and smooth and allowing cows to walk at their own pace is probably the best approach at preventing lameness.

It’s a good idea to assess the condition of farm roadways over the next few weeks and take remedial action to improve surfaces where necessary over the dry period.

The intersection between the stone farm roadway and the concrete at the farmyard is often a flashpoint.

Farm roadway with a lot of loose stones.

The issue here is that stones from the farm roadway can be knocked on to the concrete.

The pain for a cow walking on a stone on concrete is similar to a person walking on a Lego brick barefoot.

Keeping this concrete area clean of stones may require regular sweeping or washing.

The inclusion of a concrete lip or kerb is a good idea at this point, as it forces the cows to raise their feet which drops any stones that may have gathered.

Regularly monitoring cows for signs of lameness and getting lame cows seen to quickly will yield dividends.

It’s worth remembering that cows will do all they can to avoid being seen to be lame due to the herd mentality of cows and the risk of a lame cow being preyed upon by predators.