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. It has been reported on 70% of all US dairies and 95% of large operations comprising 500 or more cows.
A comprehensive management approach is needed to combat digital dermatitis effectively. In this recorded webinar, UW-Madison Extension Regional Dairy Educator Aerica Bjurstrom discusses the following in the prevention and control of digital dermatitis within the dairy herd:
- The importance of footbaths
- Proper foot bath design
- Proper footbath solution management
To learn more regarding hoof health, visit UW-Madison Extension Dairy Program at https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/, including the Footbath management , Use of footbaths in an automated milking system to lower fetchings, , and The ideal footbath factsheets, or UW-School of Veterinary Medicine Dairyland Initiative’s Lameness Module at https://thedairylandinitiative.vetmed.wisc.edu/.
![Nuts and Bolts of Dairy Ventilation [Video] ▶️](https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/04/BDI-June-2026-1-440x275.png)
![Voices from Across Wisconsin, Workplace Dynamics and Herd Health [Video] ▶️](https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/04/BDI-May-2026a-440x275.jpg)
![Drone Tools for Dairy: From Research to Real-World Use [Video] ▶️](https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/03/BDI-April-2026-440x275.jpg)
![Virtual Fence Meets Pasture Nutrition for Maximum Productivity [Video] ▶️](https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/03/BDI-March-2026-440x275.png)