Lameness in dairy cows

摘要

With most cows now in for the winter, vet John Shaw (pictured left) takes a timely look at some common causes of lameness and how they should be treated. The bovine foot is a real liability when it comes to modern dairy cow management. Originally designed by nature for sedate plodding across grassland, it is capable of supporting great speed and agility during escape from predators. The modern domestic dairy cow, however, is often confined in a relatively wet environment on hard floors and fed a high-energy, high-protein diet. Her feet are in direct contact with her environment at all times and are liable to damage as a result.