Foot health and lameness are major issues facing dairy farmers because of their common occurrence and the tremendous economic losses incurred. When it comes to health issues on a dairy farm, lameness is usually a main concern along with mastitis and reproductive issues. Not only does lameness cause pain and distress for dairy cattle, but it also has a large economic impact on the dairy operation.

Economics of Dairy Cattle Hoof Health This fact sheet will mainly focus on the economic costs associated with hoof health.

Footbath Management Footbaths are the most commonly used management tool to control Digital Dermatitis (DD) on dairy farms.

• The Ideal Footbath

Hoof Health & Housing Built right and managed properly, housing facilities can limit the problem and aid recovery.

Hoof Health & Nutrition By carefully formulating the diet and monitoring cow health, we can limit occurrence of hoof health issues caused by nutritional imbalance and mismanagement.

Recording Hoof Health Events Proper record keeping can play a vital role in the decision-making process.

Please visit https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/dairy/resources/animal-well-being-herd-health/ for more information on animal well being.