• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of new foot-bath facility and detergent solution (sodium molylbdenate, citrate, potassium nitrate, tataric acid, sodium hypo-cholorite, and zinc sulfate) on claw health in lactating dairy cows. Minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of copper sulphate were 0.31% for E. coli and Bacillus isolated from cows claw. The MIC and MBC of new detergent for E. coli were 1.25% and 5%, respectively, however their respectively values for Bacillus were noticed 0.63% and 2.5%. Both 5E. coli and Bacillus populations in petri-dishes were significantly reduced (more than 95%) with the application of new detergent solution (5% or 16%). Locomotion score (LS 1-5; very good to severely bad) of lactating cows were significantly improved with in 30 days with the use of new detergent solution in foot bath. The LS2 (n=16), LS3 (n=16), and LS4 (n=7) were shown 100%, 43.8%, and 14.3% recovery rate within 30 days with the use of new detergent solution. However, LS5 (n=2) were not recovered to normal claw health and locomotion score within 30 days of new detergent application. Usage of new detergent solution for 60 days in a foot bath have shown 81.3%, 71.4% and 50.0% recovery rate in cows with LS3, LS4 and LS5, respectively. Abnormal claw incidence was reduced from 18.8% to 1.5% in overall herd (n=80) with the use of new detergent solution (16%) in a foot bath for 90 days. In conclusion, usage of 16% of our detergent solution for 60 days in a foot bath can significantly improve the cow claw health and thus mitigate the negative effects of abnormal claw on productivity of cows and dairy farm income.