Hoof · Why hoof lesions developDigital Cushion Thickness, Body Condition, and Sole Ulcer RiskThin digital cushions after calving leave the sole unprotected — body-condition loss and cushion thickness are tightly linked to sole-ulcer risk; hard floors matter, but they are not the whole story.Latest field notes
- Hoof · Why hoof lesions developDigital Cushion Thickness, Body Condition, and Sole Ulcer RiskThin digital cushions after calving leave the sole unprotected — body-condition loss and cushion thickness are tightly linked to sole-ulcer risk; hard floors matter, but they are not the whole story.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionDigital Dermatitis in Heifers: Prevention Before First LactationHeifers that meet endemic digital dermatitis before first calving pay for it in early lactation — prevention in the rearing pen beats chasing first-lactation ulcers after they hit the parlor.
Hoof · Why hoof lesions developFlooring, Traction, Wear, and Their Effect on Claw HealthFlooring is a daily mechanical dose — traction and abrasive wear shape claw horn faster than most herds measure, and the wrong surface quietly builds the next ulcer cohort.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionFootbath Design: Length, Depth, Cow Passes, and CleanlinessA footbath only works if every cow gets enough clean contact — length, depth, and how often the bath is refreshed decide whether heels are treated or just splashed with dirty solution.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionDigital Dermatitis Staging: M0 to M4.1M-stages (M0–M4.1) turn “hairy heel wart” into a herd language for active vs chronic lesions — staging drives treatment urgency, footbath strategy, and whether chronic cows are seeding the pen.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionFootbaths: Prevention, Not TreatmentA footbath is a herd prevention tool for digital dermatitis pressure — not a cure for an active painful lesion waiting in the chute. Concentration, cow passes, and cleanliness decide whether the bath reduces new cases or just paints dirty heels.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionEarly Lameness Detection: Why Treating the First Lame Step MattersCatching the first mild limp beats waiting for an obvious non-weight-bearing cow — early follow-up shortens lesion progression and protects lying time and milk.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionHoof Blocks and Off-Loading: Taking Pressure Off the Painful ClawA hoof block is mechanical off-load for a painful claw-horn lesion — not a spray substitute. Sound-claw selection, placement, and a timed recheck decide whether it helps or harms.
Hoof · From lameness to lesionCamera scores are screening — not diagnosesComputer-vision gait scores can prioritize cows and track herd trends — useful screening when camera setup is honest, never a veterinary diagnosis on their own.
Rumen · Physically effective fiberChop length is not peNDFChop length is a harvester setting; peNDF is the fiber structure that actually reaches the rumen after moisture, processing, mixing, and sorting.
Rumen · Physically effective fiberRefusals read the peNDF storyShake fresh TMR and the refusal pile with the same particle separator — divergence shows whether formulated peNDF actually reached the cow.
Rumen · Physically effective fiberSorting steals the peNDFA correctly mixed TMR can still fail when cows pick fines and leave long forage — the consumed ration loses peNDF even though the ticket looked right.
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