Lifestep Intervention Plan - The Dairyland Initiative

Meet with your lameness prevention team – hoof-trimmer, nutritionist, veterinarian and other specialist consultants
Analyze trim data for the predominant lesions causing lameness on your farm
Select herd specific actions for your herd, for each step in the cow’s life cycle targeted at the predominant lesions
Set goals and reassess progress in 6 months
Enjoy having fewer lame cows!

Life Cycle Stage	Hoof Lesion Oriented Action
Life Cycle Stage	Digital Dermatitis	White Line Disease	Sole Ulcer
Replacement Heifers	Surveillance and treatment of animals with active lesions In-feed mineral supplementation heifer groups at least 60 days before emergence of lesions Footbath program to control chronic lesions Actions to improve hoof hygiene: stocking density, manure removal frequency	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Low stress handling! Provide comfortable flooring with low risk for trauma and slipping	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Deep loose bedded comfortable stalls or bedded pack Stocking at no more than 1.2 heifers per stall or sufficient bedded pack space Heat abatement for hot climates to reduce heat stress Routine hoof-trimming to rebalance weight distribution prior to calving
First Lactation Heifers	Surveillance and treatment of animals with active lesions Footbath program to control chronic lesions Actions to improve hoof hygiene: stocking density, manure removal frequency Routine hoof-trimming in early/mid-lactation	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Low stress handling! Provide comfortable flooring with low risk for trauma and slipping Mid-lactation trim to rebalance weight distribution	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Deep loose bedded comfortable stalls or bedded pack Stocking at no more than 1.2 heifers per stall or sufficient bedded pack space Heat abatement for hot climates to reduce heat stress Mid-lactation trim to rebalance weight distribution
Lactating Cows	Surveillance and treatment of animals with active lesions Footbath program to control chronic lesions Actions to improve hoof hygiene: stocking density, manure removal frequency Routine hoof-trimming in early/mid-lactation	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Low stress handling! Provide comfortable flooring with low risk for trauma and slipping; consider rubber flooring in parlor, in holding area and along transfer lanes If thin soles are a risk consider reducing milk frequency and house lame cows close to the parlor Mid-lactation trim to rebalance weight distribution In-feed mineral and biotin supplementation to enhance hoof horn quality	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Deep loose bedded comfortable stalls or bedded pack Sufficient resting area to match the size of the cow Stocking at no more than 1.2 cows per stall or sufficient bedded pack space Less than 3 h/d out of the pen milking per day Heat abatement for hot climates to reduce heat stress Mid-lactation trim to rebalance weight distribution Minimize BCS loss in early lactation
Dry Cows	Surveillance and treatment of animals with active lesions Footbath program to control chronic lesions Actions to improve hoof hygiene: stocking density, manure removal frequency Routine hoof-trimming at dry off to identify and treat cows with active lesions	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Low stress handling! Provide comfortable flooring with low risk for trauma and slipping Dry off trim to rebalance weight distribution In-feed mineral and biotin supplementation to enhance hoof horn quality	Surveillance and treatment of lame cows Deep loose bedded comfortable stalls or bedded pack Sufficient resting area to match the size of the cow Stocking at no more than 1.2 cows per stall or sufficient bedded pack space Heat abatement for hot climates to reduce heat stress Dry off trim to rebalance weight distribution

Lifestep Lameness Action Plan