hoof health

Hoof health and management February 2012

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SUSAN SCHOENIAN Sheep & Goat Specialist

University of Maryland [email protected]

www.sheepandgoat.com

RICHARDBRZOZOWKSIExtension Educator, AgricultureUniversity of [email protected] www.extension.maine.edu/sheep

Hoof care is an important aspect of sheep and goat aspect of sheep and goat management.

Hoof health can affect an animal’s performance, disease resistance, and welfare.

Hooves should be regularly h k d f di d checked for disease and excess growth.

Animals with excessive or abnormal hoof growth and/or chronic hoof disease should be culled. CULLING IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL!


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To prevent lameness.

To allow air to reach the hoof to eliminate the bacteria that cause infection.

To create a flat sole surface, removing trapped

d d f d mud and feces and reducing the possibility of infection.

To promote proper hoof growth in young animals.

Factors affecting the need for hoof trimming:

Animal ‐ genetics BreedIndividualColor of hoofStructure/shape of hoof

Environment

need for hoof trimming:

EnvironmentSoil moisture and characteristics (terrain)Season and rainfallHousingDiet


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1. Hoof shears (trimmers) YOU CAN’T DO ATHOROUGH JOB OF

Manual▪ Smooth vs. serrated▪ Rotating handleAir‐compression driven[large flocks]

2. Hoof knifeStraight vs. curved

HOOFTRIMMINGWITHOUT A KNIFE.

3. Brush [for cleaning hoof]

4. Tight fitting (nitrile) gloves(for safety and comfort)

Tip animal onto its rump

Use deck chair

Use tilt table or “squeeze”

Manual▪ Half‐tilt▪ Full‐tilt

Automatic


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While goat is t di i t standing against a fence or on a stand or work platform.

On its side or rump

l blTilt table or “squeeze”

Manual▪ Half‐tilt▪ Full‐tiltAutomatic

Not last 6‐8 weeks of ot ast 6 8 ee s ogestation.

In conjunction with other management tasks. [e.g. shearing]

2 to 3 weeks before a show or exposition.

When hooves are soft.


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Clean hoof with brush.

Trim excess growthTrim to pad (sole)Trim axial surfaceDon’t cut tip

Potential entry for infectionPRACTICE MAKES “PERFECT.”

Try not to draw blood.Potential entry for infection

Disinfect tools between animals

COMMON

Foot scald (esp. goats)Foot abscessFootrot (esp. sheep)

LESS COMMON

BACT

ERIA

L

Laminitis (founder)BluetongueSoremouth (orf)Foot‐and‐mouth disease

VIRAL


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Gram‐negative, anaerobic g ,bacteria that live in the digestive tracts and feces of animals.

Interacts with other bacteria to cause

CAUSES FOOT SCALD(AKA INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS)

foot abscesses.

Works in conjunction with D. Nodosus to cause footrot.

BACTERIA FOUND ON EVERY FARMWHERE

THERE ARE SHEEP, GOATS, OR CATTLE.

An inflammation and redness between the toes (claws) of the hoof.

No (or minimal involvement) of the hoof.

A f

SKIN BETWEENTOES IS

RAWAND INFLAMED.

A precursor to footrot and foot abscesses.

Outbreaks occur during periods of wet weather.

NOT CONTAGIOUS ‐ ENVIRONMENTAL


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Occurs when ActinomycesOccurs when Actinomycesbacteria invade tissue that is already weakened by an interdigital infection.

Causes lameness, pain, swelling, and heat.

HEEL ORTOE

Affects mostly mature and heavy animals.

Usually only one hoof or digit is affected.

ACTINOMYCES IS A COMMON

BACTERIA ON FARMS.

Gram‐negative, anaerobic bacteria that live in the feet of infected C that live in the feet of infected animals.

Release protease enzymes which digest connective tissue between the horn and flesh of the hoof.

Survival of D. NodosusDoes not infect healthy hooves

CAUSES FOOTROT

Does not infect healthy hoovesSurvives up to three years in chronically‐infected hooves.Survives up to 14 days on soil, in feces, and on pastureSurvives up to 6 weeks in hoof horn clippings.Other surfaces: not known

20 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA

THATVARY INVIRULENCE.


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Involves a separation of the horny portions of the hoof horny portions of the hoof from the underlying sensitive areas.

Characterized by a putrid odor.

UNDERMINING OF HOOF

Both claws of hoof are usually affected.

More than one hoof is usually involved.

HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS

Starts with an irritation of interdigital tissue caused by

i t t hi h ll moisture or trauma which allows entry of F. necrophorum.

Other disease‐causing bacteria invade tissue already weakened by interdigital dermatitis.

Predisposing factors to hoof Predisposing factors to hoof disease:

Warmth (>45°F) + moistureOvergrown hoovesAbnormal hoof growth

Infection or exposure does not result in immunity.


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Moisture / trauma

Softening, damage to skin between toes

Invasion by Fusobacterium necrophorum

INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS OR FOOT SCALD

Invasion byActinomyces pyogenes

Invasion byDichelorbacter nodosus

FOOTABSCESS FOOTROT

Source: Guide to Footrot in Sheep, Alberta Sheep & Wool Commission

PrimaryI th h f l In the hooves of newly acquired animals.

SecondaryOn contaminated equipment.In contaminated bedding at sales fairs and during at sales, fairs, and during transport.On pasture and in barn lots.On footwear.From service personnel

FOOTROT USUALLY “WALKS ONTO” A FARM IN THE HOOVESOF AN

INFECTEDOR CARRIER ANIMAL.


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Have a written biosecurity plan and follow it.

Do not buy animals from flocks or herds with a history of foot diseases or noticeable lameness.

All newly‐acquired animals y qshould be suspected of having footrot and be quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks.

FOOTROT PUTS PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS!

Observe all new i l f lanimals for lameness.

Carefully inspect the hoof of each animal.

Closely trim hooves.Closely trim hooves.

Spray each foot with a solution of 20% zinc sulfate.


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Re‐trim hooves (if ) d necessary) and

thoroughly examine all hooves for signs of infection.

If there is any evidence of footrot infection, all of footrot infection, all animals in the group should be foot bathed in a 10% solution of zinc sulfate.

Goal: eliminate the effects of footrot in sheep of footrot in sheep flocks in the Northeast.

1. Education▪ Cooperating flocks▪ 4 week protocol for eliminating foot rot

▪ Web site: ▪ Web site: extension.umaine/sheep/

2. Research▪ Scoring▪ DNA testing Dr. Richard Brzozowksi

University of Maine Extension


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Trim, inspect, and f t f score feet of every

sheep and/or goat on the farm.

Separate into 2 groups1. Healthy,

infection‐free infection free 2. Infected (recovering)

Consider cullinginfected animals at this point.

Health (scale of 1‐5)1 No sign of infection1. No sign of infection2. Inflammation of digital skin,

possible odor3. Odor, undermining/

separation, lameness4. Excessive undermining two

or more feet infected, odor5. Chronic carrier

St tStructurePocketsOther abnormal growth

Hoof colorwhite, mottled, black, brown, gray

“Pocket”


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Foot bath all animals

Protocol for foot bathingMix 8.5 pounds of zinc sulfate in 10 gallons of water + 1 cup of laundry detergent (wetting agent).

Create a “soak” pad in bottom of footbath (wool or sawdust) to ( )prevent splashing and loss of solution.

Animals should stand in foot bath for at least 3 to 5 minutes (preferably longer).


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After soaking, put animals in drying area:animals in drying area:

Well‐bedded barn area Dry, hard surface ▪ Clean concrete pad ▪ Wooden floor

After drying, put groups into separate pastures or into separate pastures or barn areas where sheep and/or goats have not been for at least two weeks.

Repeat foot bathing p gand drying protocol.

Observe animals and check for any limpers.

Check and trim feet of limpers in healthy group and move to infected group.


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Inspect all animals Check and trim hooves Check and trim hooves (if necessary).Score hooves

Move infected animals that have recovered to healthy group and vice versa.

Repeat foot bathing and Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol.

Move groups to separate pastures where sheep and/or goats have not been for at least 2 weeks.

Repeat foot bathing p gand drying protocol.

Observe animals and check for any limpers.Check and trim feet Check and trim feet of limpers in healthy group and move to infected group.


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Inspect all sheep p pand goats

Score each hoof

R f Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol.

After 4 weeks, Cull carriers!4 ,all animals except “carriers” should have been able to heal.

Cull any animal that is still infected.


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TRIM TREAT ISOLATE CULL

Day 0s Day 0

Day 7

Day 14

Day 21

Day 28F o o t r o t e r a d i c a t e d !p

lus

4-p

Antibiotic injectionsPenicillinPenicillinTetracyclines

Antibiotic sprays

Topical treatment with Koppertox® or 7% iodine

Dry chemicals

Absorptive pads

Vaccination [prevent + treat]

Zinc supplementation

Genetic selectionCONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF

FOOTROT USUALLY REQUIRES A

COMBINATION OF PRACTICES.


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CONVENTIONAL SELECTIONUSING FOOTROT LESION SCORING

MARKER‐BASED SELECTIONUSING DNATESTING

Resistance to footrot is heritable.

Low to moderate heritability0.02 to 0.40 (UK)0.30 to 0.40 (NZ)Low repeatability

USING DNATESTING

Genetic markers have been found which can identify if a sheep is resistant to footrot.

A blood test for resistance is currently available (NZ)

To be effective the same strains of D. nodosus must be causing footrotp y

At least two footrot scores are recommended (UK)Creation of EPDs/EBVs

be causing footrot.

A rapid test to identify D. nodosus strains is being commercialized.

Does not require exposure to disease.

Any questions? Thank you for your attention.

hoof health

Education

nodosus tocause footrot

startswithanirritatio

th h f

apre f andfootabscesses

incontaminatedbedding

d excessgrowth

carrier animal

h ll entryoff