Why Hoof Trimmers Call It “Blocktober”

The summer management decisions that can show up in cows’ feet during the fall

“Blocktober” is the nickname some hoof trimmers use for the busy fall season, when more cows arrive at the chute needing blocks and treatment. The problems seen in October, however, often began during the heat and workload of summer.

Why summer heat can lead to fall hoof problems

Summer heat stress can affect hoof health indirectly. During hot weather, cows often spend more time standing and less time lying down as they try to cool themselves. That additional standing increases pressure on the feet and can contribute to claw-horn lesions such as sole bruising and sole ulcers.

These problems may not become obvious right away. There can be a delay between the period of increased standing and the point when a cow becomes visibly lame. That helps explain why hoof trimmers often see the consequences of summer heat during September and October.

Heat can also contribute to wetter walking surfaces. Cows drink more water, sprinklers add moisture, and manure can accumulate quickly. Prolonged exposure to wet, dirty conditions can soften the hoof and increase the challenge to hoof health.

Consistency matters too

Heat is only part of the story. Summer is also one of the busiest times of year on a dairy farm. Between cropping, haying, harvest, and vacations, routine jobs can be delayed or completed less consistently.

Manual foot bathing is one of those jobs. If the bath is not prepared on schedule, refreshed when needed, or mixed at the correct concentration, cows may receive fewer effective passes. Infectious hoof conditions such as digital dermatitis can then gain ground and become more visible in the fall.

In many herds, “Blocktober” may be the combined result of heat-related standing time, wet conditions, inconsistent foot bathing, and delayed detection during the busy summer months.

What to do this fall

·        Watch cows move: Observe cows regularly, especially as they leave the robot or move toward feed and stalls. Look for shorter strides, arched backs, uneven weight bearing, and cows hesitating to turn.

·        Treat problems early: Have newly lame cows assessed promptly by the hoof trimmer or herd veterinarian. Early intervention is generally easier than waiting for a severe lesion.

·        Review the foot-bath program: Confirm the bath is being used on the planned days, mixed accurately, kept at an effective depth, and refreshed before manure load overwhelms the solution.

·        Match the program to the problem: Different hoof-health challenges may require a different chemical, concentration, frequency, or overall approach. Avoid changing products or concentrations without reviewing the lesions being seen and following the product label and professional guidance.

·        Use robot information as an early warning: In a Lely robot barn, monitor increases in fetch cows, longer milking intervals, reduced visits, and changes in activity. These patterns do not diagnose a hoof lesion, but they can help identify cows that need to be observed.

·        Protect lying time and walking surfaces: Keep stalls comfortable and alleys as clean and dry as practical. Continue using heat-abatement equipment appropriately while managing excess water and manure.

·        Plan before next summer: Review what became inconsistent during cropping and harvest. Assign responsibility, document the schedule, and consider automation where manual routines are difficult to maintain.

Prevent next year’s “Blocktober”

LET’S BUILD A MORE CONSISTENT HOOF-HEALTH PROGRAM

Contact your Route Specialist to discuss the hoof issues you are seeing and the foot-bath chemical and label-approved concentration that best fit the situation in your barn. You can also contact your sales representative to discuss foot-bath automation options that can help keep the program consistent during next summer’s busy field season and reduce the risk of another “Blocktober.”

The best way to reduce fall hoof problems is to manage the summer conditions and routines that allow them to develop.

Sources

·        Synergy Farm Health. “Heat Stress and Lameness in Dairy Cattle.”

·        Zinpro. “Summer Decisions Lead to Fall Dairy Cattle Hoof Problems.”

·        Feed & Additive Magazine. “Beat the Heat, Spare the Feet: A Proactive Approach to Lameness.”