As summer progresses, lameness can quickly become a major challenge on dairy farms. At this point in the year, cows are still producing strong milk volumes, walking long distances to and from paddocks, and recovering from the demands of the breeding season.

With milking the primary focus, this period offers farmers an opportunity to address any emerging hoof problems through consistent foot bathing and timely hoof trimming.

 

Understanding the Cow’s Hoof and Where Issues Begin

A cow’s hoof is made up of three key parts:

  • Wall horn
  • Sole horn
  • White line – the junction where the wall and sole meet.

The white line is a natural weak spot, and many lameness cases originate here. According to Animal Health Ireland (AHI), over 80% of lameness stems from the feet, with the hind feet responsible for most cases in grazing herds. The majority of these are non-infectious.

 

Non-Infectious Causes of Lameness

During peak grazing months, non-infectious hoof lesions become more common. These include:

  • White line disease – caused by grit or small stones entering the white line, leading to painful inflammation.
  • Sole bruising – often from hard or rough walking surfaces, where trauma affects sensitive tissues beneath the sole.
  • Sole ulcers – a result of pressure within the hoof capsule, typically affecting the outer claw of the hind foot.

Prevention starts with good infrastructure. Uneven, stony, or potholed farm roadways, yards, and gateways can contribute to these problems. It may also be time to review yard layouts:

  • Collecting yards should provide at least 1.5 m² per cow to avoid crowding.
  • Feed barriers need 600 mm of space per cow, as pushing and shoving—especially at peak feeding times—often leads to hoof injuries, with younger heifers most affected.

Gentle cow movement is equally important. While relief milkers and neighbours may be covering milkings during summer breaks, herding must remain calm. Overuse of quads or dogs can stress cows, causing unnatural movements and shearing forces on hooves. Automated batt latches can help, letting cows walk at their own pace.

Cows walking with their heads raised are a sign they’re being rushed—naturally, they prefer to keep their heads down, watching their footing.

Prolonged standing on concrete, particularly in undersized parlours, can also trigger sole ulcers. Ensure there are 10% more cubicles than cows to reduce unnecessary standing time.

 

Infectious Hoof Conditions

Two infectious diseases remain common in Irish dairy herds:

  • Foul-in-the-foot – bacteria enter through damaged skin between the claws, causing swelling and severe pain.
  • Digital dermatitis (Mortellaro) – a contagious skin infection around the hoof, often present in cows without obvious symptoms.

Both thrive in wet, slurry-laden environments. Improving hygiene is key:

  • Scrapers must run frequently.
  • Passageways need to be kept clean.
  • Regular foot bathing is essential, sometimes multiple times weekly when tackling severe Mortellaro outbreaks.

Ensure the foot bath is correctly positioned and deep enough so that each hoof is fully submerged for effective disinfection.

 

Staying on Top of Lameness

Monitoring is crucial. Regular mobility or locomotion scoring helps catch problems early, when treatment is most effective. Farmers should also work closely with their veterinarian and hoof trimmer, as they are vital partners in lameness prevention and control.