The management of foot health as a tool to improve the sustainability of a dairy farm

Lameness is one of the most important diseases in dairy farms, with a prevalence ranging from 20% to 25% in European herds. About 90% of lameness cases are associated with several foot lesions such as digital dermatitis, interdigital phlegmon, and sole ulcers. It was widely demonstrated the foot lesions not only compromise animal welfare but also reduces milk yield, reproductive performance, and overall herd longevity. Several studies estimated the economic impact of foot lesions, but their environmental impact has received little attention so far. The study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm with 320 milking cows, located in northern Italy, where a foot health management protocol was implemented. The protocol included a weekly routine of hoof trimming, daily inspection of foot conditions, and the implementation of data collection with a specific recording system. Additionally, nutritional adjustments, particularly in mineral supplementation (zinc) and biotin, were introduced to promote hoof health. Data collection included lameness and disease recording and milk production records. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the foot health management protocol on foot lesions, herd performance, and environmental outcomes. Data collected before and after the protocol implementation were analyzed over a two-year period. The results showed that the occurrence of severe foot diseases decreased significantly; particularly there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the percentages of sole ulcers and abscesses before and after the implementation. The incidence of laminitis detected also had a significant difference between the years showing the benefits of an earlier detection and intervention. The percentage of healthy animals increased significantly overall the two years of analysis (p<0.05) and showed a large effect; over 80% of heifers were identified as healthy at their first evaluation. Herd milk production data showed a significant average increase (p<0.05). The improvement in animal health and milk production average were positively reflected on the farm's environmental impact. These findings are consistent with previous research indicating that proper foot health management is essential for improving both economic and sustainability outcomes in dairy farming. Effective protocols not only mitigate the economic loss associated with foot disease but also contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of dairy farming.