Keeping the hooves of dairy cows in optimal condition all year round does not have to be an expensive, or difficult task. Important is to know the variables to keep the hooves healthy and under control in the periods between hoof trimming. In the past hoof bath or mats weare often used, but these methods will become obsolete. These 10 ‘signs’ show that smart spraying is the future.

1. ALWAYS A FRESH SPOT ON EVERY HOOF

Because all hoof baths and mats become quickly contaminated with manure during use, there is no fresh product to touch the hoof after a while. With a spray application, whether with low-pressure, battery or automatic robot sprayers, each hoof receives a fresh application with a strong adhesion, which is a condition for true success.

2. REDUCE THE FREQUENCY BY 4X

Traditional hoof bath protocols often prescribe a minimum treatment of 2 days per week after each milking, i.e. more than 4 times per week. There are even mat protocols that require 24/7 routine. With Intra Hooffit Spray, only 1 application per week meets the need to keep the hooves healthy. Knowing that consistent adherence to the protocol is essential, set a specific time in the week to have a greater chance of success with implementation.

3. DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT REQUIRED BY 5 (TIMES OR X)

For a traditional 200 liter foot bath, 10 liters of product are often added and used to pass through 200 cows. So 50 ml per cow, which counts with a frequency of 4 times to 200 ml per cow per week. Spraying once a week requires around 40 ml per cow.

4. SERIOUS TIME SAVER

A hoof bath request extra labour to place the bath correctly, prepare the solution, (re)route the cows, refill the bath after 100 passes and clean it after use. This should be done at least 4 times a week. Spraying in the milking parlor or at the feeding fence it is much faster and easier. Furthermore, it saves time because it only needs to be done once a week and ready-to-use Intra Hoof-fit Spray requires no preparation time.

5. ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT COUNT

Weekly bathing costs about € 15 – 40 per cow per year when using questionable products such as formalin or copper sulphate. For 24/7 hoof mat concepts, the annual costs even exceed € 80 per cow. A year-round approach with Intra Hoof-fit Spray can be done for less than € 10 per cow, which offers every farmer considerable cost savings.

6. FOR THE WHOLE HERD

Hoof baths and mats only reach the lactating cows. Knowing that heifers from 1 year onwards are the reservoir of hoof problems and that dry cattle is an ideal period to get the hoofs back in optimal condition, it is important not to forget these important groups. Spraying reaches the whole herd and ensures that the new or returning animals in the lactating barn start with excellent hoof condition.

7. SAFETY FIRST

Copper sulfate and formalin contain the hazard symbols that they are corrosive to equipment and skin. Furthermore, formalin has recently been declared carcinogenic and copper sulphate in hoof baths has largely been banned in Europe because it is harmful to the environment. If these products are used in a claw bath or mat, more than 90% ends up in the manure pit. Intra Hoof-fit Spray is free of these hazard symbols and ends for 90% on the hooves. It is safe for farmers, cows, the environment and manure digesters.

8. PROVEN IN THE FIELD

The growing attention for spraying methods by dairy farmers and manufacturers of miking robots already

indicates that the method works well. This is confirmed by many reviews from dairy farmers, hoof trimmers, veterinarians and retailers who regularly visit the yard. The use of Intra Hoof-fit Spray at the Dutch Dairy Institute shows that hoof trimming 2 to 3 times a year, if necessary with Intra Hoof-fit Gel, alternated with Intra Hoof-fit Spray in the intervening periods, results that hoof problems remain below 5 %.

9. FARMER’S EYE

When cows walk through a hoof bath or over a mat, the farmer often does not see the cows. Lame cows know when a painful bath with formalin or copper sulphate is prepared and will refuse or be the last to go through the contaminated bath. So those who need the support the most, get the worst bath condition. It has been proven that lame cows have fewer passages in the milking robot if the cows know that such a bath is included. By spraying, the entire dairy herd becomes equal: the good and bad ones, the youngsters and 100,000 liter cows.

10. LESS INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT BY HOOF TRIMMERS OR VETERINARIANS

Lameness, together with fertility and mastitis, is the biggest expense for every dairy farmer. Worldwide, an average of 20-25% of dairy cows have hoof problems. Reducing these hoof problems to only 5% of the dairy herd by consistently using Intra Hoof-fit Spray will greatly reduce the number of treatments required by hoof trimmers or veterinarians. This is a major extra cost saving for the farmer and a healthy hoof leads to a higher milk yield.

USE YOUR FARMER’S COMMON SENSE