Lameness significantly impacts survival time of the dairy cow in the herd, causing premature culling due to poor mobility, infertility and poor production
Lameness is disproportionately represented in the cull cow population because the incidence of claw horn lesions increases with parity
Once a cow succumbs to a lesion in one lactation, she is at much greater risk for developing the same lesion again in the next lactation
Slaughter Plan
Before shipping a lame cow for slaughter the dairy producer must ask the question whether or not the cow is fit for transport
Cows which are severely lame and unable to bear weight on all 4 feet should not be shipped off farm and should be euthanized on farm
Cows which are mildly lame may require treatment of the affected lesion by trimming and application of a foot block to facilitate transfer from the farm and they should ideally be penned separate in the trailer from the rest of the group
Make sure you are in compliance with all drug withdrawal periods!
