CONTRIBUTOR(S): Vetstream Ltd, Sophie Mahendran,
Footbath design and management
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Regular foot bathing is effective at cleaning mud, slurry, bacteria and other environmental material from skin and the interdigital space, thereby reducing the risk of skin damage and infection.
Footbath chemicals ready for use ©Roger Blowey who wishes to acknowledge Provita for their assistance with this image.
Why use a footbath?
Foot bathing may help to prevent heel horn erosion and thereby improve general claw condition. Foot bathing also helps to prevent superficial foot infections such as digital dermatitis and foul. Lameness is a significant economic and welfare issue for the dairy sector. Regular foot bathing is an important tool to help minimize lameness issues and maximize productivity and cow comfort.
Where should the footbath be located?
To ensure regular use, it is sensible to locate the footpath near the exit to the milking parlor, so that cows can walk through it as they leave the parlor. This regular use will make it familiar to the cows and they will quickly become comfortable walking through it. A single cow, one-way system is ideal. Avoid locating footbaths in communal areas where cows mill about, as these will quickly become contaminated by cows passing through multiple times. The cow should have a clear view, with good lighting and an unimpeded journey into, through and out of the footbath to encourage movement through the bath. The footbath should ideally be indoors to avoid freezing of solutions in cold weather or dilution by rainwater. If indoors, then ventilation must be adequate to avoid build-up of noxious fumes.
What is the best footbath design?
Pre-bathing
Feet need to be clean for foot bathing chemicals to reach the skin effectively. Mud and manure can also inactivate foot bathing chemicals. Therefore, it is sensible to include a prewash area prior to the main footbath. The prewash may be as simple as a water filled foot bath that the cows walk through prior to the main footbath, but this may not be enough to remove dried on dirt. Automated, jet-wash foot baths can be installed to more thoroughly clean feet with water, prior to chemical foot bathing. Separate the pre-bath from the main footbath by at least 3 metres, to allow water to drop from the feet. Slatted walkways prior to, between and after footbaths allow water and slurry to drain away and help to keep feet clean.Size
Sizes below are for typical Holstein-Friesians. Larger breeds may need larger footbaths. Ensure that even heavily pregnant animals can move through easily. Single cow foot bath: 50-60 cm wide, 3-3.5 m long, depth should be enough to include 10-12 cm footbath solution and space for splashes and containment, so about 20-25 cm deep. Larger footbath: 150-250 cm wide, 3-3.5 m long and 25 cm deep.Shape (base and sides)
There should be no step into the footbath. The exit should include a higher lipped step-out, to allow splashes and waves to be contained. Sides should slope slightly. There should be no ledges either side, so that cattle cannot avoid the solution by walking on the ledge. The base should be non-slippery and even. No sharp edges or projections that cows could injure themselves on.Water inlet
The foot bath should be located near a fresh water source or suitably sized header tank to allow quick and easy infill with water. Pipes should be flush to the wall to prevent cows from injuring themselves as they pass.Drain
The drain to empty the footpath should be accessed from outside of the footbath to facilitate quick and easy drainage. It should be separated from cow's feet to minimize risk of injury to the cows and to prevent damage to the drainage area. Drainage should comply with local regulations for disposal of footbath chemicals.Sides
Sides should be solid and sloping to encourage forward movement. If railings are used at the side of the footbath, then the bottom bar of the side railings should slightly inwardly overlap the edge of the footbath to prevent cows from attempting to put their feet through the railings in avoidance of the solution (see image above).Standing area
Cows leaving the foot bath should have access to a clean, dry standing area (ideally slatted).What about footbath management?
Drain the footbath and replenish the solution regularly. A rough rule of thumb is 1 cow/L, so a 240 L footbath should be replenished every 240 cows that pass through it. Automatic foot bathing systems are available that automatically drain and replace the solution after a certain number of cows. These will need regular maintenance and calibration to ensure that solution concentrations are correct and that they are working efficiently.
Who should I speak to for further help and advice?
Your vet should be your first port of call for information on foot bathing and foot health.