This document discusses foot problems as a major issue for nutritionists in dairy herds. Laminitis, caused by factors like subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), is a major non-infectious cause of lameness. Nutritional factors like grain levels and quality, forage fiber content, and transition diets can all influence the development of SARA and laminitis. Proper management of factors like bunk space, feeding schedules, and cow comfort are also important to prevent lameness and foot problems.

1. FOOT PROBLEMS…A
NUTRITIONIST’S NIGHTMARE

2. FOOT PROBLEMS…A NUTRITIONIST’S
NIGHTMARE
In the past decade I have spent as much
time dealing with lameness in my dairy
herds as I have with nutritional issues.
Why? Cows who cannot walk do not eat, are
more prone to reproductive and metabolic
disorders and are likely to be prematurely
culled from the herd.

3. FOOT PROBLEMS…A NUTRITIONIST’S
NIGHTMARE
Laminitis, the main non-infectious cause of
lameness, is classified into 3 categories:
1. Acute or subacute laminitis:
Is relatively rare in dairy cattle and is due to a
single incident such as grain over load, RP’s or
mastitis.
It develops rapidly and causes severe
signs of acute pain, but does not produce
lesions that are visible in the hoof.

4. FOOT PROBLEMS…A NUTRITIONIST’S
NIGHTMARE
2. Chronic laminitis (“slipper foot”):
Develops from continuous or repeated
insults that cause lesions affecting the
shape and function of the feet and
eventually locomotion.
3. Subclinical laminitis or SARA (sub acute
ruminal acidosis):
SARA is a multifactorial disease involving
nutrition, housing and stress. It occurs when
the cow’s rumen drops below 5.8 pH.

5. FOOT PROBLEMS…A NUTRITIONIST’S
NIGHTMARE
There is a clear association between infectious causes
of lameness and laminitis:
Lameness due to digital/interdigital dermatitis causes
cows to spend less time on their feet. Once they are
settled in a stall they are reluctant to leave it even if it
means foregoing food and water.
This in turn leads to slug feeding, reduced rumen pH
(acidosis) and eventually laminitis. DA’s, low BCS,
compromised immune system and ketosis are also
common in these animals.

6. Nutritional Influences
Factors such as the amount and type of grain,
grain processing, forage type and quality,
levels etc. influence intake patterns, energy
metabolism and sub-clinical acidosis.
Grain mixes containing finely ground or highly
processed cereal grains have the highest
rates of ruminal starch digestion.

7. Nutritional Influences
Grain sources categorized by rate of ruminal starch
digestion. Adapted from Stock and Britton (1993).

8. Nutritional Influences
When formulating rations:
 Ensure NDF is between 28-33% for high production
groups (75% of which should be coming from the
forage fraction).
 NSC levels should be between 35-40%, although in
my experience I do not like to go over 38% if
possible.
 High production rations should contain 21-27%
starch and 4 to 6% sugar. Caution should be taken to
blend rapidly available and slowly available starches.

9. Nutritional Influences
At the barn level:
In my experience one of the biggest reasons for
laminitis in herds can be attributed to trends
towards finely cut and processed forages, and a
range of by-products that offer very little chemical
or effective fibre.
In other words there is a lack of eNDF (effective
fibre).

10. Nutritional Influences
When effective fibre is decreased or inadequate:
 Less chewing by animal
 Less salivary buffer secreted
 More rumen acid produced
 Reduced ruminal pH
 Shift in microbial populations & end products of
fermentation (>propionic acid,<acetic acid)
 Milk fat depression
Laminitis!

11. PENN STATE SHAKER BOX

12. Nutritional Influences
Caution: excessive quantities of long pieces will allow
“sorting” by the cows.
 Ensure total ration moisture is about 50%. If too dry, add
water or products such as wet brewers grains or molasses.
 Limit dry hay (or straw in the case of heifers and FAD cows)
to 1 to 2 kg/hd/day.
 Limit maximum fibre length to 5 cm or less.
 Processed corn silage helps; the presence of husks and cobs
in the TMR promotes sorting.

13. Nutritional Influences
Fat
High fat content of TMR. Total added fat
(saturated, non-saturated and by-pass) over
8% of the total ration DM can tip a fibre-
marginal ration into a problem zone.
Amino acids
The amino acids cysteine, histidine and methionine
play key roles in production of good quality horn of
the hoof, providing a strong start to hoof health.

14. Nutritional Influences
Calcium
The onset of lactation places a large demand on
mechanisms of Ca balance in the animal and most
cows develop some degree of hypocalcemia at
calving.
Insufficient calcium supply or availability due to
hypocalcemia may lead to reduced quantity and/or
quality of claw horn.

15. Nutritional Influences
Zinc
Zn is a component of over 200 enzymes, several of
them involved in the processes of horn production.
Many studies have shown that organic Zn improves
claw integrity as well as udder health.
All of the herds I work with are feeding some form of
chelated or organic Zn.

16. Nutritional Influences
Copper
Cu activates an enzyme which is responsible for
formation of the chemical bonds between keratin
filaments.
Cattle suffering from a subclinical Cu deficiency are
more susceptible to heel cracks, foot rot and sole
abscesses.
Caution: NEVER feed toxic levels of any trace mineral.

17. Nutritional Influences
Selenium
Se may contribute to protection and maintenance of
the intercellular
cementing substance.
I supplement Se at 7 mg/h/day and will have my
clients inject Se at the start of the FAD and CUD
periods if oral supplementation is not guaranteed.

18. Nutritional Influences
Biotin
A water-soluble “B” vitamin, biotin is the vitamin of
greatest importance to horn production.
20 mg/cow/day
supplemental dietary biotin reduced the laminitis
related hoof lesions, white-line separation and sole
ulcers and improved sole ulcer healing.

19. Nutritional Influences
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays an important role in developing the
structure and quality of
horn tissue.
It is essential to supplement Vitamin A, the naturally
occurring Vitamins A in forages and grains brakes
down very quickly.
I supplement rations at 200 KIU/hd/day.

20. Nutritional Influences
Transition Nutrition and Management
Around calving, dairy cows are introduced to a
lactation diet and most often also to new housing
facilities.
These changes by them selves may lead to animals
being at risk for acidosis/laminitis particularly in 1st
calf heifers.
One group short dry cow period?

21. Nutritional Influences
In my practice I have seen many herds where
cows< 90 days in milk show signs of laminitis.
This is most likely due to the risk of SARA through
failure to increase the VFA absorptive capacity of the
ruminal papillae and adapt the ruminal microbial
population to starch during the close-up dry period
prior to the feeding of high-energy (starch) milking
cow diets.

22. Nutritional Influences
This situation may be exasperated by animals moving
from a “coarse” close up dry cow ration and moving
into a much “hotter”, finely chopped milk cow ration.
This observation lends further support to the practice
of feeding a fresh-cow
ration in a separate fresh cow group.
My herds that have a separate fresh cow group feed
high or milking TMR with LIMITED long stem hay fed
separately (1-2 kg).

23. Nutritional Influences
Heat Stress
Ruminal pH is lower in dairy cows in hot-humid
conditions, this is due to decreased rumination
activity and increased slug feeding during heat stress.
Excessive sorting of long TMR particles may increase
during heat stress.
This can be reduced by increasing the eNDF content of
the TMR and decreasing the NFC content.

24. Nutritional Influences
Heat stress limits the amount of time cows spend in
stalls which may increase risk of laminitis. Laminitis
increases in cows that spend more time standing on
concrete.
Remember SAAWW : shade, air exchange, air
velocity, drinking water, and water for cooling.
I also reduce DMI and “dense” up the TMR
prior to heat hitting.

25. Feeding Management Practices
Eating fewer and larger meals more quickly is
associated with increased incidence of laminitis.
Factors that can cause “slug feeding” of the TMR:
 Limited bunk space.
 Limited feed access time.
 Restricted feeding vs. feeding for 5 to 10% refusal.
 Inconsistent feeding schedule.
 Infrequent TMR push up.
 Bunk competition.

26. Feed Additives
Monensin:
Monensin and the CRC boluses are used to reduce
subclinical ketosis during transition.
Monensin has also been used to prevent acidosis in
cattle and reduce lactic acid concentrations through
inhibition of the lactic acid producer Streptococcos
bovis.
This suggests that monensin may have a role in
controlling SARA and laminitis.

27. Feed Additives
In my herds I use the CRC bolus 21 days pre-partum,
no monensin in the dry premix, and 200 - 300 mg of
monensin in the milking premix.
The 200 – 300 mg of monensin is relatively low (I have
seen up to 600 mg in the field) and does not affect
BF% in my herds.

28. Feed Additives
Sodium Bicarbonate
Dietary supplementation of sodium helps buffer the
rumen pH, increase BF% and reduce
acidosis/laminitis.
In my herds I use 200-220 g/h/day in all milking
groups and in some herds we also free choice sodium
bicarb. (I reduce NaCl by 50%)
DO NOT FEED SODIUM BICARB TO DRY COWS (MILK
FEVER)!

29. Cow Comfort and Laminitis
This is a huge topic on to it’s self:
 Proper stocking density to minimize excessive standing.
 Free stall design and resting surface management to
encourage use and minimize injury.
 Stall grooming, bedding addition, and regular observation of
stall acceptance.
 Adequate air exchange to encourage moisture removal to
keep stalls and alleys drier.
 Match group size to parlor performance.

30. Cow Comfort and Laminitis
 Alley cleaning frequency to limit manure accumulation in
alleys.
 Convenient access to feed and feeding area for at least 21
hours per day.
 Installation and use of heat stress abatement methods
improve cow comfort and reduce excessive standing.
 Periodic locomotion scoring and observation
for lameness.
 Regular hoof trimming schedule for each cow by qualified
hoof trimmer.

31. FOOT PROBLEMS…A NUTRITIONIST’S
NIGHTMARE
Take Home Messages
Acidosis, laminitis and SARA : DON’T GO
THERE! It will take you 1-3 years to recover
and can devastate a herd.
Always build for cow comfort: your cows and
you will be rewarded.
Foot problems affect herd nutrition, herd
nutrition affects foot problems!