Lameness is a massive problem in the dairy industry causing a major welfare issue and a large loss in production.
While we do not normally carry out routine foot trimming we will see lame cows and advice on prevention through nutrition or foot bathing.
We will treat lame cows through foot paring with or without the use of various foot blocks. Increasingly we are using the technique of hemiamputation where the lesion is in the toe. This saves the rest of the claw and allows the cow to continue for a number of lactations. We will amputate the entire claw where there is infection into the joint.
We have a Wopa box which can bring, if requested, especially where the farmer has no appropriate facilities or front feet are involved.
