Effects of formalin footbathing on foot disease and claw quality in dairy cows

Abstract

Two experiments on the effect of routine footbathing in 5 per cent formalin in preventing foot diseases and improving claw horn quality of dairy cows are described. Treatment four times a week significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced the incidence of interdigital lesions but had no significant effect on the incidence of the individual interdigital lesions or on the incidence of individual or overall diseases of the claw horn. A two year study using a divided footbath demonstrated significant improvements in some aspects of claw quality in digits footbathed in formalin. Formalin treated digits had a lower incidence and severity of erosio ungulae (P less than 0.001) a lower moisture content (P less than 0.001) and a reduced severity of haemorrhage of the sole at some sites in the claw compared with untreated digits. Formalin treatment, however, had no significant effect on the incidence of either clinical or subclinical lesions of the claw horn. The improvement in the horn quality of claws treated with formalin for six months did not increase with a further year of treatment.

Effect of formalin footbathing on the prevalence of foot lesions and conformational indices in dairy cattle

“…The improvement in the heel erosions in the trim/footbath group in the present study was similar to the findings of Peterse (1980) and Arkins and others (1986) and can be best attributed to the antiseptic or bactericidal effect of the formalin (Cornelisse and others 1982). The significant decline in the lesions and severity score of sole haemorrhages and, less importantly, sole ulcers in the footbathed animals was similar to the findings of Arkins and others (1986). The improvement in the solar lesions might be due to alterations in the texture of the keratin and improvements in the resistance to abrasion due to the superficial astringent action of the formalin on the soles' surface (Avrameas 1969).…”

“…The improvement in the heel erosions in the trim/footbath group in the present study was similar to the findings of Peterse (1980) and Arkins and others (1986) and can be best attributed to the antiseptic or bactericidal effect of the formalin (Cornelisse and others 1982). The significant decline in the lesions and severity score of sole haemorrhages and, less importantly, sole ulcers in the footbathed animals was similar to the findings of Arkins and others (1986).…”

“…The significant decline in the lesions and severity score of sole haemorrhages and, less importantly, sole ulcers in the footbathed animals was similar to the findings of Arkins and others (1986). The improvement in the solar lesions might be due to alterations in the texture of the keratin and improvements in the resistance to abrasion due to the superficial astringent action of the formalin on the soles' surface (Avrameas 1969).…”

“…The comparatively better results achieved in the present study, compared with those of Arkins and others (1986), might be due to variations in the frequency of footbathing. The continuity in the treatment for three consecutive days every fortnight and the significant interval between treatments might be responsible for the overall better results.…”

Kayseri Develi Tarımsal Kalkınma Kooperatifi Süt Sığırı Çiftliğinde Bulunan Sığır Tırnaklarının Muayenesi ve Problemli Tırnakların Sağaltımı

“…Tırnak hastalıklarına yanlış rasyon, tırnak bakımının düzenli yapılmaması, hijyenik olmayan barınma koşulları ve barınak zeminlerinin bozuk olması gibi birçok faktörler sebep olmaktadır. Bu nedenle işletme sahiplerinin olası tırnak hastalıklarının önlenmesi bakımından bilinçlendirilmesi gerekmektedir (4,5). Sonuç olarak; S.S. Develi İlçe Merkezi Tarımsal Kalkınma Kooperatifi süt sığırı çiftliğine ait sığırlar üzerinde gerçekleştirilen bu araştırmada ayak hastalıklarının insidansı %37 olarak belirlendi.…”