goat hoof health

Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011

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SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy‐nē‐ŭn)Sheep & Goat SpecialistWestern Maryland Research & Education [email protected] ‐ www.sheepandgoat.com

Hoof care is an important aspect of animal management.

Hoof health can affect an animal’s performance, p ,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 ISYOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL!

To prevent lameness.

To allow air to reach the hoof, to eliminate the bacteria that cause infectionsinfections.

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.

Genetics IndividualBreed

Factors affecting the need for hoof trimming:

BreedColor of hoofStructure of hoof

EnvironmentSoil moisture and characteristics (terrain)Season and rainfallHousingDiet

1. Hoof shears (trimmers)Manual▪ Smooth vs. serrated▪ Rotating handle

YOUCAN’T DO ATHOROUGH JOBOF

HOOFTRIMMINGWITHOUTA KNIFE.

g

Air‐compression driven[large flocks]

2. Hoof knifeStraight vs. curved

3. Brush[for cleaning hoof]

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‐tiltAutomatic


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Not during late gestation.

In conjunction with jother management tasks.

2 to 3 weeks before a show.

When hooves are soft.

Clean hoof

Trim excess growthTrim to pad (sole)Trim axial surfaceDon’t cut tip[entry for infection]

Try not to draw blood.[entry for infection]

Disinfect tools between animals

PRACTICE MAKES “PERFECT.”

COMMON

Foot scald (esp. goats)Foot abscessFootrot (esp sheep)A

CTER

IAL

Footrot (esp. sheep)

LESS COMMON

Laminitis (founder)BluetongueSoremouthFoot‐and‐mouth disease

BA

VIRAL

Gram‐negative, anaerobic bacteria that lives in the digestive tract and feces of animals.

CAUSES FOOT SCALD(INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS)

Interacts with other bacteria to cause foot scald and foot abscesses.

Works in conjunction with D. Nodosus to cause footrot.

ON EVERY FARM

An inflammation and redness between the toes (claws).

No (or minimal

SKIN BETWEENTOES IS

RAWAND INFLAMED.

No (or minimal involvement) of the hoof.

Precursor to footrot and foot abscesses.

Outbreaks occur during periods of wet weather.

NOT CONTAGIOUS

Occurs when Actinomycesbacteria invade tissue already weakened by an interdigital infection.

HEEL ORTOE

Causes lameness, pain, swelling, and heat.

Affects mostly mature and heavy animals.

Usually only one hoof or digit is affected.ACTINOMYCES IS UBIQUITIOUS.


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Gram‐negative, anaerobic bacteria that live in the feet of infected animals.

Release protease enzymes which digest connect tissue between the

CAUSES FOOTROT

digest connect tissue between the horn and flesh of the hoof.

Survival of D. NodosusDoes not infect healthy hoovesUp to three years in chronically‐infected hooves.Up to 14 days on soil, feces, and pastureUp to 6 weeks in hoof horn clippingsOther surfaces: not known

20 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA

THATVARY IN VIRULENCE.

Involves a separation of the horny portions of the hoof from the underlying sensitive areas.

UNDERMININGOF HOOF

Putrid odor

Both claws are usually affected.

More than one hoof may be involved.

HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS

Irritation of interdigital tissue caused by moisture or trauma allows entry of F. necrophorum.

Other disease‐causing bacteria invade tissue already yweakened by interdigitaldermatitis.

Predisposing factors:Warmth (>45°F) + moistureOvergrown hoovesAbnormal hoof growth

Infection or exposure does not provide natural immunity.

Moisture / trauma

Softening, damage to skin between toes

Invasion by Fusobacterium necrophorumInvasion 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

PrimaryIn the hooves of newly acquired animals.

SecondaryO t i t d 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

FOOTROTUSUALLY “WALKSON” TOA FARM INTHE

HOOVESOF AN INFECTEDANIMALORCHRONIC CARRIER.

Have a written biosecurity plan and follow it.

Do not buy animals from yflocks 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!


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Observe all new animals for lameness.

Carefully inspect h f teach foot.

Closely trim hooves.

Spray each foot with a solution of 20% zinc sulfate.

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.

Goal: eliminate the effects of footrot in sheep flocks in the Northeast.

1. Education1. 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

Trim, inspect, and score feet of everygoat (and sheep) on the farm.

Separate into groups1. Healthy,

infection‐free 2. Infected (recovering)

Consider cullinginfected animals.

Health (scale of 1‐5)1. No sign of infection2. Inflammation of digital skin,

possible odor3. Odor, undermining/

separation, lamenessp ,4. Excessive undermining two

or more feet infected, odor5. Chronic carrier

StructurePocketsOther abnormal growth

Hoof colorwhite, mottled, black, brown, gray

“Pocket”


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Foot bath all animals

Protocol for foot bathingMix 8.5 pounds of zinc sulfate in 10 gallons of water + 1 cup of laundry detergent (wetting 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).

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.

Repeat foot bathing and drying protocol.

Observe animals and Observe animals and check for any limpers.

Check and trim feet of limpers in healthy group and move to infected group.

Inspect all goats (and sheep)Check and trim hooves (if necessary).Score hooves

Move infected animals that Move infected animals that have recovered to healthy group and vice versa.


Move groups to separate pastures where goats (and sheep) have not been for at least 2 weeks.


Ob i l d Observe animals and check for any limpers.Check and trim feet of limpers in healthy group and move to infected group.

Inspect all goats (and sheep)

Score each hoof



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After 4 weeks, all animals except “carriers” should h b bl have been able to heal.

Cull any animal that is still infected. Cull carriers!

Antibiotic therapyPenicillin [Rx]Tetracyclines [Rx]

Antibiotic sprays

Topical treatment with Koppertox® Topical treatment with Koppertox or 7% iodine

Dry chemicals

Absorptive pads

Vaccination [prevent and treat]not FDA‐approved for goats

Zinc supplementation

Genetic selection

CONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF

FOOTROT USUALLY REQUIRES A

COMBINATION OF PRACTICES.

CONVENTIONAL SELECTIONUSING FOOTROT LESION SCORING

Resistance to footrot is heritable in ewes, but not lambs

MARKER‐BASED SELECTIONUSING DNATESTING

Genetic markers have been found which can identify if a sheep is resistant to footrot.

not lambs.Low to moderate heritability0.02 to 0.40 (UK)0.30 to 0.40 (NZ)Low repeatabilityAt least two footrot scores are recommendedCreation of EPDs/EBVs

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.

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/footrot.htmlhttp://extension.maine.edu/sheep

Thank you for your attention

Any questions?

Visit the Maryland Small Ruminant Page on Facebook@ http://www.facebook.com/MDSmallRuminant

SUSAN [email protected]

www.sheepandgoat.com

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