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On a farm of 300 cows, 20 were in the "lame" paddock. This is evidence of bad management and animal welfare abuse.
The old farmer used crushed rotten rock (over-burden brown rock) on an already well formed lane that would be better with only the cheapest agricultural lime chips spread as thinly as possible. Lime on lanes reduces hoof problems dramatically. He'd been using rotten rock with stones up to 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter all his farming life as most did a long time ago because it was cheap per cubic metre. I never used it because it could not be spread thinly and damaged hooves, so cost more per square metre of lane, than blue metal dust from under the conveyor which can be spread just a few cm thick and is easy to grade with a tractor and blade. If hoof problems occur, use a Hoofmat or Cowmat which have been remarkably successful in improving hoof health in dairy cows cost effectively. It is a surface hoof treatment without the hassles of sunken footbaths. For a mat supplier near you see www.shoof.co.nz Vaughan Jones GrazingInfo Ltd Hamilton New Zealand |