Video 18 footbaths
Top tips for using footbaths
Cattle and sheep lameness can be a real pain, for both animals and farmers. There are two types of lameness, in my opinion, mechanical and infectious. Mechanical lameness like white line disease, sole ulcers, etc is by far the most common in cows. With infectious lameness, particularly in sheep, being more common https://youtu.be/F0dYWw-RBY0
While I will cover mechanical lameness prevention in future blogs. To control infectious lameness we will often use footbathing as part of an overall program.
Questions always arise around which is the best biocide or agent to use.
However, unless we get the other elements of our footbath correct we will not see the results we desire.
There is some science to footbathing
The ultimate aim of footbathing is about controlling the spread of disease, like digital dermatitis or footrot. They can provide some help in treatment but ultimately treatments should be specific and based on individual animals.
A lameness program should have a couple of key elements
- Identify the cause
- Look at individual treatments for specific lamenesses (act early)
- Control the risk factors at the herd and flock level.
So treat the individual lame animals is my advice with specific treatments and footbath the herd or flock to control the infectious disease. Most importantly always ask why? Lameness is occurring. Go after the underlying factors.
Frequency of footbathing
So frequency is down to specific risks you may be dealing with. More passes in the week the better, but we must be realistic also with what’s possible. This becomes particularly true with sheep, while dairy cows it is much easier to run them through a footbath regularly.
The key element is the amount of time the foot spends in the right solution. The better we set up and the easier footbathing is the more likely we will do it.
Indoors footbathing needs to be done at a minimum once weekly in control programs but may be needed more often.
For milking cows, this can be done easily with footbaths after milking done daily if needed.
So the tip with frequency is based around the principle as much as necessary to control the problem.
Volume/ size
Footbath size is dependant on herd size. Before I would make footbaths longer, I would always say wider in bigger herds. Long footbaths can get a lot of soiling in them.
The main aim should be to have the right size bath for your herd then accurate dilution rate of your product.
A nice simple rule for replacement of solution is 1 cow 1 liter, so for a 200-liter footbath that’s 200 cow passes.
Work out the dilution of the solution
You must know the volume of your footbath firstly. Some of the new concrete footbaths work well when positioned correctly in a yard.
Example Digcur advanced needs 2% solution with a 200-liter footbath
That would be 4 liters into 196 liters.
Set up
You will need a high-pressure water hose to fill and clean your footbath. Look at drainage around your footbath to make sure it doesn’t become dirty.
Remember cows like to step up to a foot bath and not down. Avoid distractions and keep lighting consistent. If you make it easy to use for yourself and your cows, you’ll use it more.
Aim for 26 cm step up, a good comfortable nonslip surface and walls to channel cows through the bath. Wisconsin researchers designed a footbath where they looked at sloped walls to help narrow the size of the bath and help cow flow. Fill up to 13cms and replenish when the bath goes below 10cms.
Wisconsin footbath design
For larger herds, two side by side footbaths can work or a double cow width footbath of 1.8 meters.
Some authors suggest two footbaths one to simply wash and clean the feet and the second with a biocide agent for disinfection.
Once the optimal place for a footbath is found then simple concrete structures can also be built or some farms will use an automatic footbath.
Setting up good cow flow
Cows naturally move slowly at 3-4 km/hr. When building a footbath we want to make sure not to upset or speed up cows.
Coming out of a miking parlor this means that cows need space, to avoid congestion and ensuring good flow into the footbath. When we have cows congested and jostling we can cause more issues with lameness and issues with white line disease.
Try position your footbaths so they are part of a daily routine and cow flow is not affected. For beef cattle, this could be done using existing handling facilities and placing structures in them to allow animals to walk through.
A funnel into any crush works well to allow cows to file through in a single line.
A permanent structure positioned well, particularly in dairy herds are far better than plastic baths which cows often don’t like. We must remember if there is one thing cows love its consistency.
Sheep and footbaths
Again the same rules apply as regards frequency and ease of use. We need the feet to spend as much time as possible in the solution. Batch footbaths work well for sheep. It increases the standing time which is important with the possibility of less frequent bathing. Also, remember to allow the flock to stand in dry yards for 20-30 minutes after footbathing.
Conclusions
Footbathing is only part of an infectious lameness control program. Individual treatments must be a key component.
Always ask why? Lameness is occurring and reduce other risk factors, especially in the environment.
Thought for the day
Eat well and sleep well they are the foundations of good living.
Huge thanks to Nettex in helping support me in making this series for more information about Digicur advanced click the link here http://www.progiene-dairy.com/hoofcare/digicuradvanced
Happy safe farming