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Photo: Fiedler ◁ The lesions are often chronic in infested herds. As chronic lesions can become acute again and again, they contribute to the spread of these pathogens. foss, which is claimed to have a skin-caring effect, form a protective film on the skin and also bind ammonia as this comes into contact with the skin. The trial took place on two farms which were struggling with hoof issues: farm A in Bavaria, farming a 60-head Fleckvieh herd and their offspring, and Farm B in Lower Saxony, managing a 70-head Holstein herd of dairy cows. During the hoof care treatment period, all cows plus the dry cows and cattle (up to three months before giving birth) were assessed by the vets each time the hoof care routine was carried out. When 68 animals were assessed on farm A, 17.6% of the hooves were found to show open and acute Mortel- laro sores. On farm B, 71 animals were assessed. Here, 33.1% of the hooves HOOF HEALTH DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD ON FARM B (HF) Averaged M-Score 20 top agrar Groups Control group not receiving spray treatment Group receiving spray treatment 15 10 5 Jan Apr Jul Oct 2022 △ A Mortellaro score describes the various stages of Mortellaro. The higher the score (0 - 60), the more acute and obvious the lesion. The graph shows that regular spraying of the hooves from the very start of the trial reduces reinfections or new outbreaks. were affected by the disease. Apart from these acute incidents, the vets found numerous chronic lesions (25.7% on farm A, 19% on farm B). All lesions were treated or re-treated until all acute or vegetating chronic le- sions had disappeared. At the beginning of the trial period, the vets considered the low-grade hyperkeratotic stages as acceptable. From day one of the trial period, each farmer applied the hoof care prod- uct to one hind hoof twice a week during milking. The milkers cleaned both hind hooves with the udder shower and after milking sprayed the right hind hoof around the fetlock and the area between the claws. They used a powerful battery-powered pressure sprayer with a retrofitted stainless steel lance. This cleaning pass took two milkers two to three minutes per group. Once a month, the vets examined all limbs while the animals were in the milking parlour or at the feed rack and documented the results. The conditions were also documented during each hoof care routine although, as antici- pated, the documentation could have been even more detailed. FEWER RE-INFECTIONS On both farms, the number of acute and open lesions decreased solely by consistent treatment at the beginning of the trial. This measure achieved initial results after six weeks when no relapses were discovered on the sprayed right feet on farm A and only one relapse on farm B whereas minor open lesions were found on the unsprayed left feet in three cows on farm A and in eight cows on farm B. Such relapses occur typically after six to twelve weeks. Yet the trial shows that hoof treatment and regular spray care can break this cycle. In the further course of the trial, the number of open lesions on the sprayed feet stayed at a low level. The vets also counted fewer and fewer cases of mild chronic hyper- keratosis. By comparison, the control feet in the same cows showed marked lesions that had to be treated again and again. The study also showed clearly the positive effect of pasture grazing. The cows on farm A grazed from June to September and during this period, they didn’t suffer from any acute lesions at all and the farmer was able to reduce the washing and spraying routine to once a week. As soon as the grazing Source: Fiedler This reprint is published with the special permission of Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH, Hülsebrockstraße 2 - 8, 48165 Münster.
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season ended, the condition of the hooves deteriorated again. Important: The most successful dis- ease management combines hoof care, follow-up checks, the regular applica- tion of a hoof care product and good hygiene. Documenting the current con- dition and the target condition is a use- ful method to pursue goals and visual- ise successful treatment. Your contact at the editorial office: julia.hufelschulte@topagrar.com Translated into English by trans-agrar Brief on Mortellaro's disease CAUSE The so-called digital dermatitis (DD) is mainly caused by motile, filamentous bacteria known as treponemes. These bacteria are transmitted from cow to cow and survive on slurry-covered lanes for a certain period of time. They can penetrate the hoof skin, if the skin bar- rier is weakened by exposure to ammo- nia, injuries and metabolic issues, for example. Once the bacteria penetrate the skin, they multiply. In animals with a healthy immune system, the pathogens form a dormant cyst in the skin; the skin itself shows no pathological alter- ations. If the treponemas are able to multiply unchecked, severe skin alter- ations will occur, the skin layers will lose their structure and an ulcerous le- sion will break out. PRESENTATION In acute condition (M2 stage), the dis- ease presents itself in open and red ul- cers on the back of the fetlock/bunion. If treatment is delayed or if follow-up treatment is omitted, the disease will become chronic (M4 stage). In that case, the skin thickens and develops corneal layers (hyperkeratosis) and raised, hair-like or wart-like keratin lay- ers, which again may develop into acute lesions (M4.1 stage). Depending on the severity of the case, the af- fected animal shows serious lameness. TREATMENT AND PREVENTION 1. Biosecurity: If your farm isn’t affected yet, you can protect your herd from DD by not buying in animals and by wear- ing protective clothing, etc. 2. Clean walking lanes: Any improve- ment in hygiene reduces the stress on the skin. For example, scrape the walk- ways as often as possible, create a dry environment and separate faeces and urine. 3. Cow comfort: Any comfort raising measures have a positive impact on hoof health. Ensure the cubicles, feed- ing tables, the climate inside the barn, etc. are optimal. 4. Adopt a consistent therapy that in- cludes follow-up treatment(s), i.e. regu- lar hoof care and intensive follow-up treatment until the lesion is healed. Dressings should be changed after three to five days. 5. Skin care: Regular hoof baths or spray applications reduce the germ pressure and help protect the skin. HHHEEEAAALTLLHTTHHYYYHHHOOOOOOVVVEEESSS – ––HHHEEEAAALTLLHTTHHYYYDDDAAAIRIIRRYYYCCCOOOWW W SCIENTIFICALLY CONFIRMED SCSIECNIETNIFTIICFAICLALYLLCYOCNOFNIRFMIREMDED Scan and ScalenSacarannndmanodre learlneamrnorme ore More info? MoM Pl r e eo as ri e en c fi o on n ?f ta o c ? t Jan Storgaard PleaP+sl4ee5acs2oe2nc2toa7nc7ta2Jc7atn6JSa· tjngoSdrgt@oavragirladoafordss.com +45+42522272277277627· j6gd· j@gdvi@lovfiolossfo.csosm.com
