“Whether you are milking cows in a traditional parlor or through an automated milking system, a cow’s locomotion is important… Barn hygiene practices, such as preventative hoof trimming and regular alley scrapping, are critical for hoof health, but these practices also need to include the regular use of a footbath with a disinfectant to control foot rot and digital dermatitis.”
Foot and leg health is critical for dairy animals, as OSU Extension Specialist Jason Hartschuh points out in the article. Hartschuh explains the negative impact poor hoof health can have on your herd and explains that one of the most important hoof health measures a dairy producer can take is proper utilization of a footbath.