Many farmers don't realise the huge production, health and profitability issues attached to lameness and just how costly it can be to your business, due to:
| - | Reduced milk yields from stress, lower food intake and extended calving interval |
| - | Lameness can actually cause up to 20% loss in milk production |
| - | Increased veterinary treatments |
| - | Higher herd culling rate and replacement costs |
| - | Higher fertility costs due to extra services |
| - | Discarded milk |
| - |
Increased labour to treat infected cows
|
| - | Increased risks of other diseases |
| - | As much as 25% of cows in your herd could be lame at any one time, resulting in serious financial losses of up to £4,000 for the average herd of 100 cows, or £40 per cow* |
Contaminated animals can quickly pass on infection to the whole herd. This problem can be made worse in herds with high density or zero grazing.
* Source: Reading University Daisy records and Kossaibati, Esslemont and Watson, 1999