Ways to reduce digital dermatitis in dairy cattle ahead of winter

Increased slurry exposure at winter housing always comes with raised risk of digital dermatitis (DD), so now is an ideal time to plan ahead and think of preventative strategies.

See also: How a strict approach to mobility scoring can cut lameness

Will Gratwick, vet for Lambert Leonard and May, and Tim Carter, chairman of the Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board, provided their tips to Farmers Weekly following UK Dairy Day.

  1. Hose off dirty feet in the parlour before cattle go through the footbath
  2. Use the footbath daily
  3. Change the footbath regularly – aim for one cow pass/litre (thjs means a 200-litre footbath needs changing every 200 cows)
  4. Measure the footbath and ensure the chemical is added at the correct rate for the concentration required
  5. Separate cows with DD lesions, wash the feet, dry and treat with an antibiotic spray prescribed by the vet
  6. Avoid using foot bandages on cows with DD as they create the ideal, damp environment for DD bugs to thrive.

Bedding conditioner cuts digital dermatitis

Using a once-weekly bedding conditioner on cubicles could reduce disease challenge and digital dermatitis (DD) in dairy cows, according to farm research highlighted at UK Dairy Day.

A French trial used the bedding conditioner Cobiotex in a 120-cow herd for one year and found DD cases dropped by 35% and severity by 77%.

The product is a multi-strain bacterial additive which forms protective biofilms across animal bedding and cubicle surfaces.

The biofilms work by outcompeting pathogenic bacteria, such as those linked to DD, claims UK distributor EnviroSystems.

The product is said to keep bedding drier, reducing bedding requirements. Weekly application also brings labour savings.