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Economics Of Dairy Cattle Hoof Health

When it comes to health issues on a dairy farm, lameness is usually a main concern along with mastitis and reproductive issues. Lameness includes any abnormality which causes a cow to change the way she walks. It can be caused by a range of foot and leg conditions including foot rot, digital dermatitis, laminitis, and claw disease. Lameness can be influenced by nutrition, disease, genetic influences, management, and environmental factors. Not only does lameness cause pain and distress for dairy cattle, but it also has a large economic impact on the dairy operation.

In the fact sheet Economics of Dairy Cattle Hoof Health, UW-Extension Calumet County Agriculture Agent Eric Ronk focused on the economic costs associated with hoof health.

Economics of Dairy Cattle Hoof Health is one of several factsheets in a hoof health series called “Walking Strong” developed by UW-Extension Dairy Team members.  Other factsheets include:

  • Footbath Management
  • Hoof Health & Housing
  • Hoof Health & Nutrition
  • The Ideal Footbath
  • Recording Hoof Health Events

Source: uwex.edu


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Season 6, Episode 7: Takeaways from the Second International Conference on Pig Livability

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This year’s conference fostered open, engaging conversations around current research in the swine industry, bringing together hundreds of attendees from 31 states and six countries. Two leaders who helped organize the event joined today’s episode: Dr. Joel DeRouchey, professor and swine extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University, and Dr. Edison Magalhaes, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. They share key takeaways from the conference, including the importance of integrating data when evaluating whole-herd livability, building a culture of care among employees and adopting new technologies. Above all, the discussion reinforces that this industry remains, at its core, a people business.