International hoof care consultant Karl Burgi identifies three primary incidences that can trigger lameness events:
- heat stress
- any episode of cows standing too long
- transition
Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 31, 2017.
Heat stress affects the feet? Yes, said Burgi, because hot cows stand more to try to cool off. When cows are standing, blood does not flow as effectively to the feet. “With poorer circulation, cows are not able to resolve inflammation in their feet, and the hoof corium is deprived of oxygen and nutrients,” he explained.