Hoof Health

Hoof health and management February 2012 RICHARD BRZOZOWKSI SUSAN SCHOENIAN Extension Educator, Agriculture Sheep & Goat Specialist University of Maine University of Maryland Extension richardbrzozowski@maine.edu sschoen@umd.edu www.extension.maine.edu/sheep www.sheepandgoat.com Hoof care is an important aspect of sheep and goat management. Hoof health can affect an animal’s performance, disease resistance, and welfare. Hooves should be regularly checked for disease and h k d f di d excess growth. Animals with excessive or abnormal hoof growth and/or chronic hoof disease CULLING IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL! should be culled. 1

Hoof health and management February 2012 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 mud and feces and d d f d reducing the possibility of infection. To promote proper hoof growth in young animals. Factors affecting the need for hoof trimming: Animal ‐ genetics Breed Individual Color of hoof Structure/shape of hoof Environment Soil moisture and characteristics (terrain) Season and rainfall Housing Diet 2

Hoof health and management February 2012 1. Hoof shears (trimmers) YOU CAN’T DO A THOROUGH JOB OF Manual HOOF TRIMMING WITHOUT A KNIFE. ▪ Smooth vs. serrated ▪ Rotating handle Air‐compression driven [large flocks] 2. Hoof knife Straight vs. curved 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 3

Hoof health and management February 2012 While goat is standing against t di i t a fence or on a stand or work platform. On its side or rump Tilt table or l bl “squeeze” Manual ▪ Half‐tilt ▪ Full‐tilt Automatic ot ast 6 8 ee s o Not last 6‐8 weeks of gestation. In conjunction with other management tasks. [e.g. shearing] 2 to 3 weeks before a show or exposition. When hooves are soft. 4

Hoof health and management February 2012 Clean hoof with brush. Trim excess growth Trim to pad (sole) Trim axial surface Don’t cut tip PRACTICE MAKES “PERFECT.” Potential entry for infection Try not to draw blood. Potential entry for infection Disinfect tools between animals COMMON Foot scald (esp. goats) BACTERIAL Foot abscess Footrot (esp. sheep) LESS COMMON Laminitis (founder) Bluetongue VIRAL Soremouth (orf) Foot‐and‐mouth disease 5

Hoof health and management February 2012 g , Gram‐negative, anaerobic CAUSES FOOT SCALD bacteria that live in the (AKA INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS) digestive tracts and feces of animals. Interacts with other bacteria to cause foot abscesses. BACTERIA FOUND ON EVERY FARM WHERE Works in conjunction THERE ARE SHEEP, GOATS, OR CATTLE. with D. Nodosus to cause footrot. An inflammation and SKIN BETWEEN TOES IS redness between the RAW AND INFLAMED. toes (claws) of the hoof. No (or minimal involvement) of the hoof. A precursor to footrot A f and foot abscesses. NOT CONTAGIOUS ‐ ENVIRONMENTAL Outbreaks occur during periods of wet weather. 6

Hoof health and management February 2012 HEEL OR TOE Occurs when Actinomyces bacteria invade tissue that is already weakened by an interdigital infection. Causes lameness, pain, swelling, and heat. Affects mostly mature and heavy animals. ACTINOMYCES IS A COMMON Usually only one hoof or BACTERIA ON FARMS. digit is affected. Gram‐negative, anaerobic bacteria CAUSES FOOTROT 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. Nodosus Does not infect healthy hooves Survives up to three years in chronically‐infected hooves. 20 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA Survives up to 14 days on soil, in feces, and on pasture THAT VARY IN VIRULENCE. Survives up to 6 weeks in hoof horn clippings. Other surfaces: not known 7

Hoof health and management February 2012 Involves a separation of the horny portions of the hoof UNDERMINING OF HOOF from the underlying sensitive areas. Characterized by a putrid odor. Both claws of hoof are usually affected. HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS More than one hoof is usually involved. Starts with an irritation of interdigital tissue caused by moisture or trauma which allows i t t hi h ll entry of F. necrophorum. Other disease‐causing bacteria invade tissue already weakened by interdigital dermatitis. Predisposing factors to hoof disease: Warmth (>45°F) + moisture Overgrown hooves Abnormal hoof growth Infection or exposure does not result in immunity. 8

Hoof health and management February 2012 Moisture / trauma Softening, damage to skin between toes Invasion by Fusobacterium necrophorum INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS OR FOOT SCALD Invasion by Invasion by Actinomyces pyogenes Dichelorbacter nodosus FOOT ABSCESS FOOTROT Source: Guide to Footrot in Sheep, Alberta Sheep & Wool Commission Primary In the hooves of newly I th h f l acquired animals. Secondary On contaminated equipment. In contaminated bedding at sales, fairs, and during at sales fairs and during transport. On pasture and in barn lots. On footwear. FOOTROT USUALLY “WALKS ON TO” From service personnel A FARM IN THE HOOVES OF AN INFECTED OR CARRIER ANIMAL. 9

Hoof health and management February 2012 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 q should be suspected of having footrot and be quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks. FOOTROT PUTS PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS! Observe all new animals for lameness. i l f l Carefully inspect the hoof of each animal. Closely trim hooves. Spray each foot with a solution of 20% zinc sulfate. 10

Hoof health and management February 2012 Re‐trim hooves (if necessary) and ) d thoroughly examine all hooves for signs of infection. If there is any evidence 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 flocks in the Northeast. 1. Education ▪ Cooperating flocks ▪ 4 week protocol for eliminating foot rot ▪ Web site: extension.umaine/sheep/ 2. Research ▪ Scoring ▪ DNA testing Dr. Richard Brzozowksi University of Maine Extension 11

Hoof health and management February 2012 Trim, inspect, and score feet of every f t f sheep and/or goat on the farm. Separate into 2 groups 1. Healthy, infection free infection‐free 2. Infected (recovering) Consider culling infected animals at this point. Health (scale of 1‐5) 1. 1 No sign of infection 2. Inflammation of digital skin, possible odor 3. Odor, undermining/ separation, lameness 4. Excessive undermining two or more feet infected, odor 5. Chronic carrier Structure St t Pockets Other abnormal growth Hoof color “Pocket” white, mottled, black, brown, gray 12

Hoof health and management February 2012 Foot bath all animals Protocol for foot bathing Mix 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). 13

Hoof health and management February 2012 After soaking, put animals in drying area: Well‐bedded barn area Dry, hard surface ▪ Clean concrete pad ▪ Wooden floor After drying, put groups into separate pastures or barn areas where sheep and/or goats have not been for at least two weeks. p g Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol. Observe animals and check for any limpers. Check and trim feet of limpers in healthy group and move to infected group. 14

Hoof health and management February 2012 Inspect all animals Check and trim hooves (if necessary). Score hooves Move infected animals that have recovered to healthy group and vice versa. Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol. Move groups to separate pastures where sheep and/or goats have not been for at least 2 weeks. p g Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol. Observe animals and check for any limpers. Check and trim feet of limpers in healthy group and move to infected group. 15

Hoof health and management February 2012 p p Inspect all sheep and goats Score each hoof Repeat foot R f bathing and drying protocol. 4 , After 4 weeks, Cull carriers! all animals except “carriers” should have been able to heal. Cull any animal that is still infected. 16

Hoof health and management February 2012 TRIM TREAT ISOLATE CULL Day 0 plus 4-p s Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day 28 F o o t r o t e r a d i c a t e d ! Antibiotic injections Penicillin Tetracyclines Antibiotic sprays Topical treatment with Koppertox® or 7% iodine Dry chemicals Absorptive pads Vaccination [prevent + treat] Zinc supplementation CONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF Genetic selection FOOTROT USUALLY REQUIRES A COMBINATION OF PRACTICES. 17

Hoof health and management February 2012 CONVENTIONAL SELECTION MARKER‐BASED SELECTION USING FOOTROT LESION SCORING USING DNA TESTING Resistance to footrot is Genetic markers have been found which can identify if a heritable. sheep is resistant to footrot. Low to moderate heritability A blood test for resistance 0.02 to 0.40 (UK) is currently available (NZ) 0.30 to 0.40 (NZ) To be effective the same strains of D. nodosus must Low repeatability p y be causing footrot. be causing footrot At least two footrot scores are recommended (UK) A rapid test to identify D. nodosus strains is being Creation of EPDs/EBVs commercialized. Does not require exposure to disease. Any questions? Thank you for your attention. 18

Hoof Health

by University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program

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Hoof Health

by University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program

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