Skip to content
UW Crest

Dairy

Division of Extension

  • HPAI
  • Topics
    • Animal Welfare & Herd Health
    • Emerging Technologies and Facilities
    • Feed and Nutrition
    • Heat Stress
    • Milk Quality and Milking Systems
    • Reproduction and Genetics
  • Events
  • News
  • Dairy Programs
    • Badger Dairy Insight
    • El “Break” Info-Lechero
    • Four-State Nutrition and Management Conference
    • Midwest Manure Summit
    • Milk Quality from the Udder World: Trainer Certification Program
  • Articles
  • Newsletters
    • Dairy Newsletter
    • Bovi-Noticias
  • People
  • About
    • About the Dairy Program
    • Our Impacts
    • Sign-up for the Dairy Program Newsletter
  • Contact Us
Search
University of Wisconsin-Extension

Hoof Health

▶️ Watch: Generalidades de la podología bovina especializada

▶️ Watch: Generalidades de la podología bovina especializada

En esta charla discutiremos cómo la implementación de programas intensivos de alimentación a terneras de reposición durante las primeras semanas de vida mejora su crecimiento, de qué forma afecta su desarrollo ruminal y su potencial productivo futuro.

Manejo de los Pediluvios o Piletas Lavapatas

Manejo de los Pediluvios o Piletas Lavapatas

Los pediluvios o piletas lavapatas son la herramienta de manejo más utilizada para controlar la Dermatitis Digital (DD) en las granjas lecheras.

From birth to strong steps: Understanding and managing knuckle over pasturns in calves

From birth to strong steps: Understanding and managing knuckle over pasturns in calves

Calves born with knuckle over pasterns, also known as contracted tendons, present a unique challenge for dairy and beef producers.

Robotic milking farms and digital dermatitis

Robotic milking farms and digital dermatitis

Digital dermatitis, commonly known as hairy heel warts, is a common infectious foot disease that causes lameness in cattle and often leads to decreased milk production, performance, and fertility in cattle. Learn how it affects robotic milking farms and strategies for prevention in this video.

Stepping up your footbath management game

Stepping up your footbath management game

Digital dermatitis, commonly known as hairy heel warts, is a common infectious foot disease that causes lameness in cattle and often leads to decreased milk production, performance, and fertility in cattle. Watch this video to learn more.

Impact of copper sulfate footbath use on eastern Wisconsin’s manure, soil, and forage copper concentrations

Impact of copper sulfate footbath use on eastern Wisconsin’s manure, soil, and forage copper concentrations

Healthy soil is the foundation of a productive farm. Monitoring soil health and maintaining soil integrity can improve water filtration, boost crop production and health, and foster biological and physical components of soil. Fields that receive dairy manure are likely to receive higher copper concentrations than non-dairy manure.

 

 

The Ideal Footbath

The Ideal Footbath

A footbath is one of the most important tools used on dairy farms to prevent lameness and maintain hoof health. When used properly and paired with a disinfectant, a footbath can prevent and control foot rot and digital dermatitis on dairy farms. Recently, the recommendations for footbath dimensions have changed after new research was conducted at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine.

Footbath Management

Footbath Management

Footbaths are the most commonly used management tool to control Digital Dermatitis (DD) on dairy farms.  Proper footbath use will make DD management more effective and save money by reducing the amount of solution used.

Proper foot wrap application

Proper foot wrap application

Digital dermatitis is one of the most common foot diseases of the dairy cow and can be found in even well-managed dairy herds. It is an infectious disease caused by a family of spiral-like bacteria called Treponema. Special attention must be given to this foot disease in order to treat the animals which serve as a reservoir of infection and to reduce the spread of infection.

Use footbaths in an automated milking system to lower fetchings 

Use footbaths in an automated milking system to lower fetchings 

While all the data points of information at our fingertips to monitor is a positive, there are still areas to improve when it comes to animal health and Automated Milking Systems (AMS), particularly for hoof health.

Hoof health starts with the heifer

Hoof health starts with the heifer

Hoof health is essential for not only the overall health of the animal, but also for her welfare. Digital dermatitis (DD), or hairy heel warts, is an extremely painful condition for dairy cattle, reducing their ability to walk to and from the milking parlor, or to the feed bunk. Based on USDA NAHMS 2017 data, 16.8% of all cows and 2.6% of bred heifers have lameness on a dairy operation.

Posts navigation


Division of Extension

Connecting people with the University of Wisconsin

  • Agriculture
  • Community Development
  • Health & Well-Being
  • Families & Finances
  • Natural Resources
  • Positive Youth Development

Agriculture at Extension

  • Agriculture Water Quality
  • Crops and Soils
  • Farm Management
  • Horticulture
  • Livestock

Questions?

Contact us at dairy@extension.wisc.edu

Dairy Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest information and upcoming programs from Extension Dairy, sign up for our newsletter.

Sign up now.

University of Wisconsin-Madison      |        Explore Extension: Agriculture Community Development Families & Finances Health Natural Resources Youth
Connect With Us
Support Extension
Extension Home

We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.

Explore Extension »

County Offices

Connect with your County Extension Office »

Map of Wisconsin counties
Staff Directory

Find an Extension employee in our staff directory »

staff directory
Social Media

Get the latest news and updates on Extension's work around the state

facebook iconFacebook

twitter icon Follow on X


Facebook
Follow on X

Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: info@extension.wisc.edu | © 2026 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Privacy Policy | Non-Discrimination Statement & How to File a Complaint | Disability Accommodation Requests

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.