Foot rot and abscesses

[TCRanch]

What is going on with my retained heifers this year? I've already treated 2 for foot rot and 2 for foot abscesses. They're in the same pastures I've always kept them, which have the least amount of rocks/uneven terrain. Diet is the same, as are vaccinations and minerals. We came off a drought last year and I didn't treat any, soil conditions are "normal" (until the recent epic rains).

BooBoo. Treated her for an abscess a couple days ago. She's the 14th calf out of a dam that I treated for an abscess on her jaw back in 2018. No health or foot issues in any of her lineage I've kept.

Lexi. Treated her for an abscess a couple months ago. She's the 8th calf out of a dam that I've never treated for anything, stellar health record.

Tarnish. Foot rot, 8th calf and only heifer I've retained from a dam I've never treated, stellar health record.

Eggo. Foot rot, 2nd calf from this cow and never treated her for anything. Only thing in her lineage is her grandma choked (and almost died) on a hedge apple, and I finally sold her when she was 14, due to arthritis.

Is it just my year for bad feet? Am I the only one, or are any of you seeing more foot issues than normal? BTW, both abscesses were in the exact same spot: top of the right hind foot..

 

[gcreekrch]

How is your copper and iodine levels?

 

[SBMF 2015]

Extra wet years always seem to have more foot problems.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Is there stubble, stops and thorns in the pasture?

 

[GoWyo]

Stalks from big weeds seem to be when I get the foot rot issue. The stems poke between the toes and make an opening for the bacteria.

 

[TCRanch]

How is your copper and iodine levels?

Good question. Haven't had the soil tested in that part of both pastures but it's fine in the adjoining brome fields. The loose mineral they have includes copper and iodine.

 

[TCRanch]

Extra wet years always seem to have more foot problems.

True. But we've only recently had the epic rain and haven't had any problems in the central pasture with the main herd.

 

[TCRanch]

Is there stubble, stops and thorns in the pasture?

There are thistles in the east 80, where they were moved a few weeks ago, but not the west 80, where they had been since weaning last Oct.

 

[Rafter S]

Assuming you aren't already using it (and since you're having problems with foot rot it's a reasonable assumption), start keeping EDDI salt out free choice year-round. My father always did that, saying it helped with foot rot. A few years after he passed away I had the brilliant idea that it wasn't necessary since I never had problems with foot rot, and I started putting out regular white stock salt instead.

Guess what? I started having problems with foot rot.

It likely doesn't need to be this same brand, but this is the one I've used. As long as you see EDDI on the label it should be fine.

 

[angus9259]

When I see stuff like this it normally gets chalked up to "unexplainable bad shyt happens".

Given the details, if it were my place, I'd also suppose that a physical actor was the primary culprit - the infection is along for the ride. At my place that issues would be craggy frozen or dried out pocks in the clay that happens when hoof holes freeze or dry.

It's crap like this that gets me vaccinating for pinkeye and foot rot any more. Does it help? No idea. But the BS that comes with pinkeye and footrot makes me willing to spend $10 a head to do what I can. Good luck.

 

[gcreekrch]

Good question. Haven't had the soil tested in that part of both pastures but it's fine in the adjoining brome fields. The loose mineral they have includes copper and iodine.
View attachment 69068

All you can do is test and talk to nutritionist. I am not an authority by any means but I do knows causes and what questions to ask.

 

[Silver]

Assuming you aren't already using it (and since you're having problems with foot rot it's a reasonable assumption), start keeping EDDI salt out free choice year-round. My father always did that, saying it helped with foot rot. A few years after he passed away I had the brilliant idea that it wasn't necessary since I never had problems with foot rot, and I started putting out regular white stock salt instead.

Guess what? I started having problems with foot rot.

It likely doesn't need to be this same brand, but this is the one I've used. As long as you see EDDI on the label it should be fine.

View attachment 69070

Providing white salt is also a very good way to get goiters.

 

[MurraysMutts]

@TCRanch
I've had a few issues this year as well. The older cow got it something fierce on one of her front feet. Her feet were awful anyway tho. One n done cow. This pasture was not helpful to her at all.
One of my good red baldies had an issue too. Limping etc. She also had a pretty good sized abcess on her left jaw. Vet treated her and she's doing fine. She's also confirmed 2nd stage bred to Howie! Yay!

I took those 2 as a sign. The main reason I sold my One toed heifer.

Seven was actually limping for a few days as well. Then just miraculously perfect again. Idk. Weird year.

 

[TCRanch]

Providing white salt is also a very good way to get goiters.

Had to do a little googling on that. Looks like goiters can be caused by too little or too much iodine. Where's the sweet spot? But my guess is if you're already providing iodine in mineral, then add iodized salt, it could end up being too much of a good thing.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

My rancher husband in Texas went to one of those Texas A&M beef seminars. The professor said in plain English " Boys, dont buy any of those auction yard whores run through the auctions again and again. They may have every disease and virus known to man from being run through those pens."

Seems like a lot of bought cows, no telling where they have been and what you've got. I AI mine and have closed herd. The Angus bull calf I'm going to buy from down the road also comes from a closed herd.

Foot rot is a major problem in confinement raised commercial dairy cattle from what I read in Progessive Dairy. They have special foot baths they all must walk through. Mine are small time pasture raised. I had a problem foot root with my 15 year old pet Jersey once. It took topical meds squirted in and antibiotic shots. Took a while but cured her.

There were a lot of uneven sharp hard clay ridges in the cow travel lanes left from the rainy season. That and her immune system function was low after giveing birth to a miracle calf. Thats the only way I figure she got foot rot. It was in a front hoof. It had traveled up into the joint.

 

[Silver]

Had to do a little googling on that. Looks like goiters can be caused by too little or too much iodine. Where's the sweet spot? But my guess is if you're already providing iodine in mineral, then add iodized salt, it could end up being too much of a good thing.

The only time we got goiters here was when we got given a bunch of white salt from a drilling rig. Didn’t know how important iodine was. Since then I’ve put out TM salt (lots of iodine) along with mineral containing iodine. No problems. So thinking better to be a little high on iodine than no iodine at all.

 

[ClinchValley86]

That sodium bicarbonate deal is suppose to help with foot rot as well. Is an abcess nust a bad case of foot rot?

No first hand experience here. Just repeating what ive heard a time or two.

 

[TCRanch]

That sodium bicarbonate deal is suppose to help with foot rot as well. Is an abcess nust a bad case of foot rot?

No first hand experience here. Just repeating what ive heard a time or two.

An abscess is localized. You generally have to drain it unless it's already burst open. I've had abscesses on the bottom of the hoof, usually caused by stepping on something sharp and impaling the hoof. Foot rot is systemic, smells vile, and there is noticeable swelling.