Jaylor: Foot Problems: A Nutritionist's Nightmare

FOOT PROBLEMS…A NUTRITIONIST’S NIGHTMARE


In the past decade I have spent as much time dealing with lameness in my dairy herds as I have with nutritional issues.

Why? Cows who cannot walk do not eat, are more prone to reproductive and metabolic disorders and are likely to be prematurely

culled from the herd.


Laminitis, the main non-infectious cause of lameness, is classified into 3 categories:

1. Acute or subacute laminitis:Is relatively rare in dairy cattle and is due to a

single incident such as grain over load, RP’s or mastitis.

It develops rapidly and causes severe signs of acute pain, but does not produce

lesions that are visible in the hoof.


2. Chronic laminitis (“slipper foot”): Develops from continuous or repeated insults that cause lesions affecting the

shape and function of the feet and eventually locomotion.

3. Subclinical laminitis or SARA (sub acute ruminal acidosis):

SARA is a multifactorial disease involving nutrition, housing and stress. It occurs when

the cow’s rumen drops below 5.8 pH.


There is a clear association between infectious causes of lameness and laminitis:

Lameness due to digital/interdigital dermatitis causes cows to spend less time on their feet. Once they are settled in a stall they are reluctant to leave it even if it means foregoing food and water.

This in turn leads to slug feeding, reduced rumen pH (acidosis) and eventually laminitis. DA’s, low BCS, compromised immune system and ketosis are also common in these animals.

Nutritional Influences

Factors such as the amount and type of grain, grain processing, forage type and quality,

levels etc. influence intake patterns, energy metabolism and sub-clinical acidosis.

Grain mixes containing finely ground or highly processed cereal grains have the highest

rates of ruminal starch digestion.


Grain sources categorized by rate of ruminal starch digestion. Adapted from Stock and Britton (1993).


When formulating rations: Ensure NDF is between 28-33% for high production

groups (75% of which should be coming from the forage fraction).

NSC levels should be between 35-40%, although in my experience I do not like to go over 38% if possible.

High production rations should contain 21-27% starch and 4 to 6% sugar. Caution should be taken to blend rapidly available and slowly available starches.


At the barn level:

In my experience one of the biggest reasons for laminitis in herds can be attributed to trends

towards finely cut and processed forages, and a range of by-products that offer very little chemical

or effective fibre.

In other words there is a lack of eNDF (effective fibre).


When effective fibre is decreased or inadequate:

Less chewing by animal Less salivary buffer secreted More rumen acid produced Reduced ruminal pH Shift in microbial populations & end products of

fermentation (>propionic acid,<acetic acid) Milk fat depression

Laminitis!

PENN STATE SHAKER BOX


Caution: excessive quantities of long pieces will allow “sorting” by the cows.

Ensure total ration moisture is about 50%. If too dry, add water or products such as wet brewers grains or molasses.

Limit dry hay (or straw in the case of heifers and FAD cows) to 1 to 2 kg/hd/day.

Limit maximum fibre length to 5 cm or less. Processed corn silage helps; the presence of husks and cobs

in the TMR promotes sorting.


Fat

High fat content of TMR. Total added fat (saturated, non-saturated and by-pass) over 8%

of the total ration DM can tip a fibre-marginal ration into a problem zone.

Amino acidsThe amino acids cysteine, histidine and methionine play key roles in production of good quality horn of

the hoof, providing a strong start to hoof health.


CalciumThe onset of lactation places a large demand on

mechanisms of Ca balance in the animal and most cows develop some degree of hypocalcemia at calving.

Insufficient calcium supply or availability due to hypocalcemia may lead to reduced quantity and/or

quality of claw horn.


ZincZn is a component of over 200 enzymes, several of them involved in the processes of horn production.

Many studies have shown that organic Zn improves claw integrity as well as udder health.

All of the herds I work with are feeding some form of chelated or organic Zn.


CopperCu activates an enzyme which is responsible for

formation of the chemical bonds between keratin filaments.

Cattle suffering from a subclinical Cu deficiency are more susceptible to heel cracks, foot rot and sole

abscesses.

Caution: NEVER feed toxic levels of any trace mineral.


SeleniumSe may contribute to protection and maintenance of

the intercellularcementing substance.

I supplement Se at 7 mg/h/day and will have my clients inject Se at the start of the FAD and CUD

periods if oral supplementation is not guaranteed.


BiotinA water-soluble “B” vitamin, biotin is the vitamin of

greatest importance to horn production.

20 mg/cow/daysupplemental dietary biotin reduced the laminitis

related hoof lesions, white-line separation and sole ulcers and improved sole ulcer healing.


Vitamin A

Vitamin A plays an important role in developing the structure and quality of

horn tissue.It is essential to supplement Vitamin A, the naturally

occurring Vitamins A in forages and grains brakes down very quickly.

I supplement rations at 200 KIU/hd/day.


Transition Nutrition and Management

Around calving, dairy cows are introduced to a lactation diet and most often also to new housing

facilities.

These changes by them selves may lead to animals being at risk for acidosis/laminitis particularly in 1st

calf heifers.

One group short dry cow period?


In my practice I have seen many herds where cows< 90 days in milk show signs of laminitis.

This is most likely due to the risk of SARA through failure to increase the VFA absorptive capacity of the

ruminal papillae and adapt the ruminal microbial population to starch during the close-up dry period prior to the feeding of high-energy (starch) milking

cow diets.


This situation may be exasperated by animals moving from a “coarse” close up dry cow ration and moving

into a much “hotter”, finely chopped milk cow ration.

This observation lends further support to the practice of feeding a fresh-cow

ration in a separate fresh cow group.

My herds that have a separate fresh cow group feed high or milking TMR with LIMITED long stem hay fed

separately (1-2 kg).


Heat StressRuminal pH is lower in dairy cows in hot-humid conditions, this is due to decreased rumination

activity and increased slug feeding during heat stress.

Excessive sorting of long TMR particles may increase during heat stress.

This can be reduced by increasing the eNDF content of the TMR and decreasing the NFC content.


Heat stress limits the amount of time cows spend in stalls which may increase risk of laminitis. Laminitis increases in cows that spend more time standing on

concrete.

Remember SAAWW : shade, air exchange, air velocity, drinking water, and water for cooling.

I also reduce DMI and “dense” up the TMR prior to heat hitting.

Feeding Management Practices

Eating fewer and larger meals more quickly is associated with increased incidence of laminitis. Factors that can cause “slug feeding” of the TMR:

Limited bunk space.Limited feed access time.Restricted feeding vs. feeding for 5 to 10% refusal. Inconsistent feeding schedule. Infrequent TMR push up.Bunk competition.

Feed Additives

Monensin:Monensin and the CRC boluses are used to reduce

subclinical ketosis during transition. Monensin has also been used to prevent acidosis in cattle and reduce lactic acid concentrations through inhibition of the lactic acid producer Streptococcos

bovis. This suggests that monensin may have a role in

controlling SARA and laminitis.

Feed Additives

In my herds I use the CRC bolus 21 days pre-partum, no monensin in the dry premix, and 200 - 300 mg of

monensin in the milking premix.

The 200 – 300 mg of monensin is relatively low (I have seen up to 600 mg in the field) and does not affect BF

% in my herds.

Feed Additives

Sodium BicarbonateDietary supplementation of sodium helps buffer the

rumen pH, increase BF% and reduce acidosis/laminitis.

In my herds I use 200-220 g/h/day in all milking groups and in some herds we also free choice sodium

bicarb. (I reduce NaCl by 50%)

DO NOT FEED SODIUM BICARB TO DRY COWS (MILK FEVER)!

Cow Comfort and Laminitis

This is a huge topic on to it’s self:

Proper stocking density to minimize excessive standing. Free stall design and resting surface management to

encourage use and minimize injury. Stall grooming, bedding addition, and regular observation of

stall acceptance. Adequate air exchange to encourage moisture removal to

keep stalls and alleys drier. Match group size to parlor performance.

Cow Comfort and Laminitis

Alley cleaning frequency to limit manure accumulation in alleys.

Convenient access to feed and feeding area for at least 21 hours per day.

Installation and use of heat stress abatement methods improve cow comfort and reduce excessive standing.

Periodic locomotion scoring and observation for lameness. Regular hoof trimming schedule for each cow by qualified

hoof trimmer.


Take Home Messages

Acidosis, laminitis and SARA : DON’T GO THERE! It will take you 1-3 years to recover and

can devastate a herd.

Always build for cow comfort: your cows and you will be rewarded.

Foot problems affect herd nutrition, herd nutrition affects foot problems!

Education

Jaylor: Foot Problems: A Nutritionist's Nightmare