Tips on on beating digital dermatitis
rexfeatures_1869327a Minimising the impact of digital dermatitis (DD) hinges on controlling the condition in dairy heifers and keeping body condition on fresh cows, says a leading dairy scientist.
The stress of calving exacerbates DD and if DD is found in youngstock it must be controlled, AHDB Dairy’s Jenny Gibbons told a recent HDB dairy-calf-to-calving meeting in Dorset.
See also: How to control digital dermatitis if formalin is banned
She said high intakes and body condition were essential in prevention post-calving, in line with new advice and research on the fat pad, a digital cushion linked to body condition.
Referencing US research, she said DD in heifers cost 334kg of milk in the first lactation and reduced chance of conception by 55% to first service.
She stated Nottingham University had shown lost back fat post-calving increased the likelihood of sole ulcers and sole haemorrhages.
Advice on beating digital dermatitis
Pre-calving heifers
- Walking on tip toes is an “early sign” of digital dermatitis (DD) – to take weight off the heel
- In-calf heifers should be assessed for heel lesions
- Feet with early signs should be cleaned, dried and treated with a topical spray
- Minimise infection pressure by lessening stocking rates and preventing slurry pooling
- Run heifers through a deep and clean foot-bath
Post-calving check
- Maintain body condition on cows and heifers post-calving
- A digital cushion or “fat pad” under the pedal bone is affected by back fat thickness
- At calving foot ligament relax allowing the pedal bone to potentially sink and pinch/bruise leading to sole ulcers/bruising
- Feed bunk space is vital for driving feed intakes
Explaining the digital cushion, Dr Gibbons said: “At calving, ligaments in the foot relax so there is potential for the pedal bone to sink and cause pinching or bruising which can later develop into sole ulcers or bruising.
“At the same time, when a heifer calves, she is only 90% of mature bodyweight so the fat pad is not fully formed anyway, so there is increased risk.
See also: Foot-bath advice to reduce digital dermatitis in cows
“To limit the risk of lameness, focus should be placed on minimising body condition loss and social stress around calving.
“Where a separate heifer group is not being used, this could involve moving heifers in groups of twos or threes at the end of the day when things are quieter.
“This will give her time to find a place to eat and lie.”
Several calf-to-calving farm visits are being hosted across the country as part of an AHDB initiative.