Treating the lame cow: The importance of aftercare

Good aftercare is an important part of any treatment. Each lame cow must be monitored during and after her recovery to make sure she is progressing well.

Lame cows often struggle to cope with the demands of the herd and may need extra support during recovery.

A lame cow may:

• Be less likely to compete for feed at the feed face
• Find it harder to get up and down, increasing the risk of injury
• Drop down the herd’s social hierarchy and be less able to compete for feed, water and space

Creating a dedicated group for lame or recovering cows can support recovery and improve welfare. This should be separate from the calving and fresh cow group.

Benefits include:

• Smaller group sizes, with less competition for feed and water
• Shorter milking times, reducing the amount of time cows spend standing
• Access to loose housing or pasture, giving cows more space and better footing
• Faster recovery