This week is simply a quick update about my experience participating in foot trimming and the problems that can arise in cows feet.
I recently spent a morning helping with foot trimming at the local dairy farm and a learnt a lot! There was a fairly high-tech contraption that held the cows in place, like a crush, and lifted the cows legs gently so that we could access their feet. On the machine there was a touch screen where the cow's number and how many feet they had trimmed was entered and if any problems arose, such as dermatitis, the treatment used was also put in. This helps the farmers and foot-trimmers keep on top of things and records are readily available if supervisors or organisations wish to view them.
I soon got stuck in as one of the first cows had dermatitis in her back right foot. To treat this I put on an antibiotic cream and bandaged the whole foot to keep it protected from further infection.The most common problem I came across was digital dermatitis, a disease caused by a mixture of different bacteria that can cause great discomfort and even result in appointed amputation.
The cows tend to get into a routine of having their feet trimmed every 6 months, they are much like toenails and can grow too long which would be uncomfortable and may also mean they are more susceptible to infection. It also provides an opportunity to check up on the cows feet and their health. If a cow has a limp then a block can be put on one half of the foot in order to take off the pressure. This is generally more affective in the winter as the cows are brought into barns, whereas in summer this may just sink into the grass and be ineffective.
Thank-you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this entry! I'll be back next week with some of my exciting plans for the future.
Bye for now!
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