Lame Cattle Standard Operating Procedures

SOP number ______

Written by ______

Date effective______

Last modified______

Describes the care required for a lame animal on the ______dairy farm.

Location: Barn where animal housed, heifers may need to be trailered to hoof table.

# of employees: _1-2______.

Skill level: Only employees trained in hoof treatment protocols may perform lameness exams. They may require assistance from other animal care employees.

The following employees are qualified______, ______, ______. If these employees are not available within 48 hours of a new identified lameness, lameness exam must be scheduled with _veterinarian/number ______or hoof technician/number______.

Equipment and supplies: Hoof exam table or stall with appropriate leg lifting capability, halter, hoof trimming tool set, hoof medication supply set, drug holdout legbands, lameness treatment record sheet.

Result expected:

  • Identified cause of lameness
  • Appropriate decision to treat, cull, move as necessary
  • Initiate treatment, if necessary
  • Mark for milk or meat holdout
  • Record treatment
  • Schedule follow-up care

Protocols:

  • Move lame animal in the well-bedded pen near the hoof table at the end of the first milking after lameness is identified. Move slowly and carefully.
  • Within 24-48 hours, preferably before the next milking, halter cow and lead into hoof table chute.
  • Check general appearance of leg above hoof for swelling, redness, wounds, exudates. Serious wounds requiring veterinary attention will cause exam to stop now.
  • Place cow securely on hoof table (Consult Hoof Table SOP # ______).
  • Examine both toes, dew claws, above and between toes for wounds, punctures, evidence of bleeding, redness, swelling, infection.
  • Use hoof knives and nippers, as necessary, to clean off sole or excess hoof to look for abscesses, cuts, ulcers, cracks, etc.
  • Completely remove any undermined hoof and thoroughly clean.
  • Identify hoof lesion. Note lesion and severity on lameness treatment record and date.
  • Follow individual lameness treatment SOP for lesion type and severity. (See Lameness Treatment SOPs #1-12)
  • Put treated leg band on animals requiring meat or milk holdout.
  • Note treatment, housing requirement, follow-up on lameness treatment record and date.
  • Return animal to appropriate housing area.
  • Modify housing chart for current location of animal, if changed.
  • Turn in lameness treatment record and schedule follow-up care by farm or veterinarian as indicated.