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Herd Health & Disease ManagementDigital Dermatitis: Control Plans for Dairy Farms
Digital dermatitis is a painful, contagious foot infection that spreads quickly through herds. Control depends on routine, detection and clean, dry cow surfaces.
Key points
- Digital dermatitis is a contagious, painful foot infection.
- Wet, manure-soiled floors and new animals are the main routes of spread.
- Regular foot checks catch cases early.
- Combine clean floors, foot care, tool cleaning and biosecurity.
- Work with your vet and hoof trimmer, and follow all label directions.
What digital dermatitis is
Digital dermatitis is a skin infection of the foot, usually near the heel and the area between the claws. It causes raw, painful lesions that can look like a red, moist patch with hair around the edge. Cows with sore feet walk carefully on tiptoe, shift weight and lie down more.
The condition is caused by a mix of bacteria that thrive in wet, manure-soiled conditions. It can spread between cows and between farms, which is why purchased animals and shared equipment matter.
How it spreads
Wet, dirty floors, slurry in alleys and crowded walkways give bacteria the perfect environment. New animals entering the herd can bring it in. Hoof trimming tools and foot bath contamination can pass it from cow to cow.
Heifers are often affected too, so look at the whole herd, including replacement animals.
- Dirty, wet alleys and holding areas
- Purchased cattle without a foot check
- Unclean hoof trimming equipment
- Poor foot bath maintenance
- Crowded, slippery walkways
Detecting it early
Early detection beats a late response. Regular foot checks in the parlor, in a rotary platform or in headlocks give a picture of the whole herd. Many herds examine the back of the feet in the parlor on a routine schedule, with a light and a clean wipe if needed.
Record each cow's findings with the date. A herd with only a few early lesions is much easier to manage than one where most cows are sore. Ask your vet or hoof trimmer to show you the lesion stages and how to score them.
Pillars of a control plan
A good plan combines several steps rather than relying on one thing. Ask your vet and hoof trimmer to help you write it down and review it often.
- Keep alleys, holding pens and exits clean and as dry as you can
- Run a routine foot bathing or topical program as your vet recommends, with fresh solution and correct maintenance
- Check feet on a regular schedule and record findings
- Treat active lesions as your vet advises and follow all label directions
- Isolate and inspect new cattle before they join the herd
- Clean and disinfect trimming tools between cows
- Keep stocking density and walkway design in mind
Biosecurity for new animals
Ask for foot health information from sellers and inspect purchased cattle on arrival. Keep them separate until you know their status. Avoid sharing equipment or workers between groups without cleaning boots and tools.
A written herd entry plan is cheap compared with taking on an outbreak.
Working with your team
Your vet, hoof trimmer and nutritionist all see parts of the picture. Share your foot check records with them. Discuss what your foot bath routine looks like, how often solutions are changed and how fresh cows and heifers are managed. Do not change products or procedures without your vet's guidance, and follow all label directions and withdrawal times for any treated cow.
Common mistakes
Neglecting to replace foot bath solution, using a bath that is too crowded or dirty, skipping foot checks on heifers and not cleaning hoof trimming tools are common causes of repeat outbreaks. Another is relying on foot baths alone while barns remain wet and filthy.
Sources and further reading
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
- Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY
- University of Minnesota Extension
- American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.