These are copies of the slides from a PowerPoint presentation prepared for the 2011 Missouri Livestock Symposium.

1. Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011
Factors affecting the
need for hoof trimming:
Genetics
Individual
Breed
SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy‐nē‐ŭn) Color of hoof
Sheep & Goat Specialist Structure of hoof
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
sschoen@umd.edu ‐ www.sheepandgoat.com Environment
Soil moisture and
characteristics (terrain)
Season and rainfall
Housing
Diet
Hoof care is an important
aspect of animal 1. Hoof shears (trimmers) YOU CAN’T DO A THOROUGH JOB OF
HOOF TRIMMING WITHOUT A KNIFE.
management. Manual
Hoof health can affect an ▪ Smooth vs. serrated
animal’s performance,
p , ▪ Rotating handle
g
disease resistance, and Air‐compression driven
welfare. [large flocks]
Hooves should be regularly
checked for disease and 2. Hoof knife
excess growth.
Straight vs. curved
Animals with excessive or
abnormal hoof growth and 3. Brush
chronic hoof disease should CULLING IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL!
be culled. [for cleaning hoof]
To prevent lameness. While goat is
standing against
To allow air to reach the a fence or on a
hoof, to eliminate the stand or work
bacteria that cause platform.
infections.
infections
On its side
To create a flat sole or rump
surface, removing trapped
mud and feces and Tilt table or
reducing the possibility of “squeeze”
infections. Manual
▪ Half‐tilt
In young animals to ▪ Full‐tilt
promote proper hoof Automatic
growth.
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2. Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011
Not during late Gram‐negative, anaerobic
gestation. CAUSES FOOT SCALD bacteria that lives in the
(INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS)
digestive tract and feces of
j
In conjunction with animals.
other management
Interacts with other
tasks. bacteria to cause foot scald
and foot abscesses.
2 to 3 weeks before a
show. Works in conjunction with
ON EVERY FARM D. Nodosus to
When hooves are soft. cause footrot.
Clean hoof An inflammation and
SKIN BETWEEN TOES IS redness between the
Trim excess growth RAW AND INFLAMED. toes (claws).
Trim to pad (sole)
No (or minimal
Trim axial surface
involvement) of
Don’t cut tip PRACTICE MAKES “PERFECT.” the hoof.
[entry for infection]
Try not to draw blood. Precursor to footrot and
[entry for infection] foot abscesses.
NOT CONTAGIOUS
Disinfect tools Outbreaks occur during
between animals periods of wet weather.
COMMON Occurs when Actinomyces
HEEL OR TOE bacteria invade tissue
Foot scald (esp. goats) already weakened by an
BACTERIAL
Foot abscess interdigital infection.
Footrot (esp. sheep)
Footrot (esp sheep)
A
Causes lameness, pain,
swelling, and heat.
LESS COMMON
Affects mostly mature and
Laminitis (founder) heavy animals.
Bluetongue
Usually only one hoof or
VIRAL
Soremouth digit is affected.
ACTINOMYCES IS UBIQUITIOUS.
Foot‐and‐mouth disease
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3. Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011
Gram‐negative, anaerobic Moisture / trauma
CAUSES FOOTROT bacteria that live in the feet of
infected animals. Softening, damage to skin between toes
Release protease enzymes which
digest connect tissue between the Invasion by Fusobacterium necrophorum
horn and flesh of the hoof.
INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS OR FOOT SCALD
Survival of D. Nodosus
Does not infect healthy hooves
Up to three years in Invasion by Invasion by
chronically‐infected hooves. Actinomyces pyogenes Dichelorbacter nodosus
20 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA Up to 14 days on soil, feces,
and pasture
THAT VARY IN VIRULENCE. FOOT ABSCESS FOOTROT
Up to 6 weeks in hoof horn clippings
Other surfaces: not known
Source: Guide to Footrot in Sheep, Alberta Sheep & Wool Commission
Involves a separation of Primary
the horny portions of the In the hooves of newly
UNDERMINING OF HOOF hoof from the underlying acquired animals.
sensitive areas.
Secondary
On contaminated
O t i t d
Putrid odor equipment.
In contaminated bedding at
Both claws are usually sales, fairs, and during
transport.
affected. In the hooves of sheep
and cattle.
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS On pasture and in barn lots.
More than one hoof may
be involved. On footwear. FOOTROT USUALLY “WALKS ON” TO A FARM IN THE
From service personnel HOOVES OF AN INFECTED ANIMAL OR CHRONIC CARRIER.
Irritation of interdigital tissue
caused by moisture or trauma Have a written
allows entry of F. necrophorum. biosecurity plan and
follow it.
Other disease‐causing
y
bacteria invade tissue already y
Do not buy animals from
weakened by interdigital flocks with a history of foot
dermatitis. diseases or noticeable
lameness.
Predisposing factors:
Warmth (>45°F) + moisture All newly acquired animals
Overgrown hooves should be suspected of
Abnormal hoof growth having footrot and be
Infection or exposure does not quarantined for a minimum
provide natural immunity. of 3 weeks.
FOOTROT PUTS PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS!
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4. Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011
Observe all new Trim, inspect, and
animals for lameness. score feet of every
goat (and sheep) on
Carefully inspect the farm.
each foot.
h f t
Separate into groups
Closely trim hooves. 1. Healthy,
infection‐free
2. Infected (recovering)
Spray each foot with
a solution of 20% zinc Consider culling
sulfate. infected animals.
Re‐trim (if necessary) Health (scale of 1‐5)
1. No sign of infection
and thoroughly 2. Inflammation of digital skin,
examine hooves for possible odor
3. Odor, undermining/
signs of infection. p ,
separation, lameness
4. Excessive undermining two
or more feet infected, odor
If there is any evidence 5. Chronic carrier
of footrot infection, all
Structure
animals in the group Pockets
should be foot bathed Other abnormal growth
with a 10% solution of Hoof color “Pocket”
zinc sulfate. white, mottled, black, brown, gray
Goal: eliminate the effects
of footrot in sheep
flocks in the Northeast.
1. 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
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5. Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011
Foot bath all animals Inspect all goats (and sheep)
Check and trim hooves
Protocol for foot bathing (if necessary).
Mix 8.5 pounds of zinc sulfate in Score hooves
10 gallons of water + 1 cup of
laundry detergent (wetting Move infected animals that
agent). have recovered to healthy
group and vice versa.
Create a “soak” pad in bottom of
footbath (wool or sawdust) to
prevent splashing and loss of Repeat foot bathing and
solution. drying protocol.
Goats (and sheep) should Move groups to separate
stand in foot bath for at least pastures where goats (and
3 to 5 minutes (preferably sheep) have not been for at
longer). least 2 weeks.
After soaking, put Repeat foot bathing
animals in drying area:
Well‐bedded barn area
and drying protocol.
Dry, hard surface
▪ Clean concrete pad Observe animals and
Ob i l d
▪ Wooden floor check for any limpers.
After drying, put groups Check and trim feet
into separate pastures or of limpers in healthy
barn areas where goats group and move to
(or sheep) have not been
for at least two weeks. infected group.
Repeat foot bathing Inspect all goats
and drying protocol. (and sheep)
Observe animals and
Score each hoof
check for any limpers.
Check and trim feet of
limpers in healthy group Repeat foot
and move to infected bathing and
group.
drying protocol.
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6. Goat hoof health and management 11/28/2011
After 4 weeks,
all animals except
“carriers” should
have been able
h b bl
to heal.
Cull any animal
that is still
infected. Cull carriers! http://www.sheepandgoat.com/footrot.html
http://extension.maine.edu/sheep
Thank you for your attention Visit the Maryland Small Ruminant Page on Facebook @
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Any questions?
Antibiotic therapy
Penicillin [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 CONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
FOOTROT USUALLY REQUIRES A sschoen@umd.edu
Genetic selection COMBINATION OF PRACTICES. www.sheepandgoat.com
CONVENTIONAL SELECTION MARKER‐BASED SELECTION
USING FOOTROT LESION SCORING USING DNA TESTING
Resistance to footrot is Genetic markers have been
found which can identify if a
heritable in ewes, but sheep is resistant to footrot.
not lambs.
not lambs A blood test for resistance
Low to moderate heritability is currently available (NZ)
0.02 to 0.40 (UK) To be effective the same
strains of D. nodosus must
0.30 to 0.40 (NZ) be causing footrot.
Low repeatability
A rapid test to identify D.
At least two footrot scores nodosus strains is being
are recommended commercialized.
Creation of EPDs/EBVs
Does not require exposure
to disease.
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