How To Break The Digital Dermatitis Cycle
Digital Dermatitis (DD) can cause lameness in cattle and primarily affects dairy cattle. One of the common effects of Digital Dermatitis in dairy cattle is a reduced milk yield (although the quality of milk will be unaffected), which means preventing Digital Dermatitis a matter of urgency. An outbreak of Digital Dermatitis can occur under several conditions, including:
- Poor hygiene
- High humidity
- Introduction of infected cattle
- Poor hoof trimming and care
- Unbalanced nutrition
To break the vicious cycle of your cattle contracting Digital Dermatitis, you’ll want to learn the Why, Who, When, Where and What of Footbathing as it plays a major role in controlling and preventing Digital Dermatitis outbreaks, while also improving the general hygiene of your cattle.
WHY Should You Footbath Your Animals?
Without prompt treatment your cattle could become permanently affected by Digital Dermatitis. After the initial infection, the Digital Dermatitis bacteria can burrow deep inside the skin where they can safely lay dormant and protected.
The burrowed lesions can become active again under the right conditions, further infecting your cattle and potentially causing a new outbreak of Digital Dermatitis in your herd. The right Footbath solution will aid in the prevention of this recurring infection and others by keeping the feet cleaner.
WHO Should You Footbath?
More often than not, milking cows are the main animal that is footbathed, but that shouldn’t be the end of it. Youngstock and dry cows should also be footbathed to prevent infections. It’s a proven fact Heifers that become infected with Digital Dermatitis, pre-calving, have over twice the normal chance of contracting Digital Dermatitis again during their 1st lactation period, and suffer a loss of up to 350kg of milk productivity.
WHEN Should You Use A Footbath?
You will want to discuss with your Vet as it varies from farm to farm. Generally speaking, you’ll want to do frequent footbaths as part of a health plan for your herd. If you have an outbreak, then daily footbaths may be required to tackle the infection.
If you have new stock arriving at your farm you’ll want to ensure that they are properly footbathed upon arrival, greatly reducing the risk of bringing new Digital Dermatitis infections to your farm.
WHERE Should You Set Up A Footbath
You’ll want to avoid disrupting your cows’ routine as much as possible, so it’s common for a footbath to be set up at the exit of the parlour. Your cows will be used to walking through their by instinct, making the process easier.
WHAT Footbath Solution Should I Use?
CZF Plus has been developed as the perfect footbath solution to help to aid in the prevention of Digital Dermatitis in Cattle, Sheep and Goats. CZF Plus Footbath Solution is easy to use and comes with a number of benefits, including:
- Consistent from top to bottom
- Contains no QACs or antibiotics
- Suitable in manual and automatic footbaths
- Cost Effective
- Safer to handle than mixing a home made solution
- Less heavy metals & formalin is spread back onto the land
For more information about CZF Plus Footbath Solution, click here
