Approaching the management and control of bovine digital dermatitis in a large dairy herd

Abstract

An investigation at a large dairy farm was conducted in response to the farmer's concerns about a perceived increment in the prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD). An in‐parlour BDD scoring revealed an overall prevalence at foot level of 32%. The herd assessment included lesion analysis, evaluation of housing conditions and footbathing practices. The main risk factors were absence of BDD monitoring, delayed treatment, overstocking and inconsistency of the footbathing regimen. A control strategy focused on continuous monitoring by trained farm staff, prompt treatment of active lesions, and targeted adjustments to footbathing protocols. After 3 months, the prevalence of overall and the prevalence of active lesions decreased from 32% to 29% and from 24% to 16%, respectively. While challenges in maintaining the effectiveness of the footbath solution and managing cow flow persisted, these were addressed through proactive, adaptive management strategies, such as prompt identification and treatment of active lesions. This approach, focused on continuous monitoring, is key to achieving long‐term BDD control on farm.