Veterinarians to Discuss Dairy Lameness during Nov. 9 Webinar

By Fred M. Hall

Dairy cattle can be increasingly prone to lameness following calving, which leads to issues including reduced milk yields, discarded milk and increased labor costs associated with management of injured cattle, resulting in significant economic loss.

With this in mind, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team’s Webinar Series continues Thursday, Nov. 9, from noon to 1 p.m. with a focus on the causes and treatment for lameness in the dairy cow. There is no fee to participate in the webinar, however, prior registration is required. Visit https://go.iastate.edu/LAME to preregister.

“Hoof trimming is a monthly occurrence on dairies around the world and we are now focusing on looking for management that minimizes the expense of lame cows,” notes Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Management considerations to be discussed in the program include:

• Recalling that cows in the transition period are more prone to lameness in the months following calving.
• Understanding hormones around calving, especially relaxin.
• Minimizing activity for cattle following calving.
• Preventing cattle from laying down due to factors including heat stress and fly pressure.

Phillip Jardon and Jan Shearer, extension dairy veterinarians with ISU Extension and Outreach, will be providing expertise on lameness in cattle.

Jardon graduated from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine before completing his MPVM and Dairy Production Medicine Residency at UC-Davis, and has been in private practice and industry for 35 years. He has particular interest in transition cow diseases, and will be discussing lameness in dairy cows.

Shearer is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and was a veterinary practitioner for approximately five. He is currently a dairy extension veterinarian at Iowa State, where his interests are in lameness and welfare issues of cattle.