Post on 26-May-2015
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Goat hoof health and managementSUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn)Sheep & Goat SpecialistWestern Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com
http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/
goat-hoof-health-and-management
Hoof care
Hoof care is an important aspect of animal management.
Hoof health can affect an animal’s performance, disease resistance, and welfare.
Hooves should be regularly checked for disease and excess growth.
Animals with excessive or abnormal hoof growth and chronic hoof disease should be culled.
CULLING IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL!
Why do you need to trim hooves?
To prevent lameness.
To allow air to reach the hoof, to eliminate the bacteria that can cause infections.
To create a flat sole surface, removing trapped mud and feces and reducing the possibility of infections.
In young animals to promote proper hoof growth.
Frequency of hoof trimmingAt least annually: varies from monthly to as-needed to never.
Genetics Individual Breed Color of hoof Structure of hoof
Environment Soil moisture and
characteristics (terrain) Season and rainfall Housing Diet
Factors affecting the need for hoof trimming:
Proper equipment for hoof trimming
1. Hoof shears (trimmers) Manual▪ 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)
YOU CAN’T DO A THOROUGH JOB OF
HOOF TRIMMING WITHOUT A KNIFE.
Proper restraint for hoof trimming
While goat is standing against a fence or on a stand or work platform.
On its side or rump
Tilt table or “squeeze” Manual▪ Half-tilt▪ Full-tilt
Automatic
Proper timing of hoof trimming
Not during late gestation.
In conjunction with other management tasks.
2 to 3 weeks before a show.
When hooves are soft.
Proper hoof trimming
Clean hoof
Trim excess growth Trim to pad (sole) Trim axial surface Don’t cut tip
[entry for infection]
Try not to draw blood.[entry for infection]
Disinfect tools between animals
PRACTICE MAKES “PERFECT.”
Diseases affecting the hooves
COMMON
Foot scald (esp. goats)
Foot abscess Footrot (esp. sheep)LESS COMMON
Laminitis (founder) Bluetongue Soremouth Foot-and-mouth
disease
BA
CTER
IAL
VIR AL
Fusobacterium necrophorum
Gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria that live in the digestive tract and feces of animals.
Interact with other bacteria to cause foot scald and foot abscess.
Works in conjunction with D. Nodosus to cause footrot.
BACTERIA ON EVERY FARM
CAUSES FOOT SCALD
(INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS)
Foot scald(also called interdigital dermatitis, benign footrot, or strip)
An inflammation and redness between the toes (claws).
No (or minimal) involvement of the hoof.
Precursor to footrot and foot abscesses.
Outbreaks occur during periods of wet weather.NOT CONTAGIOUS
SKIN BETWEEN TOES IS RAW AND INFLAMED.
Foot abscess
Occurs when Actinomyces spp. bacteria invade tissue already weakened by an interdigital infection.
Causes lameness, pain, swelling, and heat.
Affects mostly mature and heavy animals.
Usually only one hoof or digit is affected.
COMMON BACTERIA
HEEL OR TOE
Dichelobacter nodosus(previously called Bacteroides nodosus)
Gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria 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 Up to three years in
chronically-infected hooves. Up to 14 days on soil, feces,
and pasture Up to 6 weeks in hoof horn
clippings Other surfaces: not known
20 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA THAT VARY IN
VIRULENCE.
CAUSES FOOTROT
Footrot(also referred to as virulent, contagious, or classic footrot)
Involves a separation of the horny portions of the hoof from the underlying sensitive areas.
Foul odor
Both claws are usually affected.
More than one hoof may be involved.
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS
UNDERMINING OF HOOF
How do foot diseases get established?
Irritation of interdigital tissue caused by moisture or trauma allows entry of F. necrophorum.
Other disease-causing bacteria invade tissue already weakened by interdigital dermatitis.
Predisposing factors: Warmth (>45°F) + moisture Overgrown hooves Abnormal hoof growth
Infection or exposure does not provide natural immunity.
How do foot diseases get established?
Moisture / trauma
Softening, damage to skin between toes
Invasion by Fusobacterium necrophorum
INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS OR FOOT SCALD
Invasion byActinomyces
pyogenes
Invasion byDichelorbacter
nodosus
FOOT ABSCESS FOOTROT
Source: Guide to Footrot in Sheep, Alberta Sheep & Wool Commission
Sources of footrot D. nodosus -- the disease-causing bacteria
Primary In the hooves of newly
acquired animals.
Secondary On contaminated
equipment. In contaminated bedding at
sales, fairs, and during transport.
In the hooves of sheep and cattle.
On pasture and in barn lots. On footwear. From service personnel
FOOTROT USUALLY “WALKS ON” TO A FARM IN THE HOOVES OF AN
INFECTED ANIMAL OR CHRONIC CARRIER.
Keep footrot off your farm!
Have a written biosecurity plan and follow it.
Do not buy animals from flocks with a history of foot diseases or noticeable lameness.
All newly acquired animals should be suspected of having footrot and be quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks. FOOTROT PUTS PEOPLE OUT
OF BUSINESS!
During the quarantine period Observe all new
animals for lameness.
Carefully inspect each foot.
Closely trim hooves.
Spray each foot with a solution of 20% zinc sulfate.
At the end of the quarantine period
Re-trim (if necessary) and thoroughly examine hooves for signs of infection.
If there is any evidence of footrot infection, all animals in the group should be foot bathed with a 10% solution of zinc sulfate.
Sheep foot health projectUniversity of Maine (funded by Northeast SARE)
Goal: eliminate the effects of footrot in sheep flocks in the Northeast.
1. Education▪ Cooperating flocks▪ 4 week protocol for
eliminating footrot▪ Web site:
extension.umaine/sheep/
2. Research▪ Scoring▪ DNA testing
Dr. Richard BrzozowksiUniversity of Maine Extension
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 1 - day 0
Trim, inspect, and score feet of every goat (and sheep) on the farm.
Separate into groups1. Healthy,
infection-free 2. Infected (recovering)
Consider culling infected animals.
Hoof scoring
Health (scale of 1-5)1. No sign of infection2. Inflammation of digital skin,
possible odor3. Odor, undermining/
separation, lameness4. Excessive undermining two
or more feet infected, odor5. Chronic carrier
Structure Pockets Other abnormal growth
Hoof colorwhite, mottled, black, brown, gray
“Pocket”
Example foot lesion scores (UK)
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 1 - day 0
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.
Goats (and sheep) should stand in foot bath for at least 3 to 5 minutes (preferably longer).
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 1 - day 0
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 goats (or sheep) have not been for at least two weeks.
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 2 - day 7
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.
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 3 - day 14
Inspect all goats (and sheep) 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 goats (and sheep) have not been for at least 2 weeks.
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 3 - day 21
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.
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 4 - day 28
Inspect all goats (and sheep)
Score each hoof
Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol.
4 week protocol for eliminating foot rotWeek 4 - day 28
After 4 weeks, all animals except “carriers” should have been able to heal.
Cull any animal that is still infected. Cull carriers!
Eradicate footrot in 4 weeks
TRIM TREAT ISOLATE
CULL
Day 0
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 !
4-p
lus
Other optionsfor controlling and eradicating footrot and scald
Antibiotic injections Penicillin Tetracyclines
Antibiotic sprays
Topical treatment with Koppertox® or 7% iodine
Dry chemicals (zinc sulfate + lime)
Absorptive pads (zinc sulfate)
Vaccination [prevent + treat]
Zinc supplementation
Genetic selection
CONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF
FOOTROT USUALLY REQUIRES A
COMBINATION OF PRACTICES.
Breeding for resistance to footrot
CONVENTIONAL SELECTIONUSING FOOTROT LESION SCORING
Resistance to footrot is heritable. Low to moderate
heritability0.02 to 0.40 (UK)0.30 to 0.40 (NZ)
Low repeatabilityAt least two footrot scores are recommended
Creation of EPDs/EBVs
MARKER-BASED SELECTIONUSING DNA TESTING
Genetic markers have been found which can identify if a sheep is resistant to footrot.
A blood test for resistance is currently available (NZ) To be effective the same
strains of D. nodosus must be causing footrot.
A rapid test to identify D. nodosus strains is being commercialized.
Does not require exposure to disease.
Hoof health links
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/footrot.html
http://extension.maine.edu/sheep
SUSAN SCHOENIANsschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com
Thank you for your attention
Any questions?
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goat-hoof-health-and-management