Footbath Suggestions

[surprisefarmer]

HI all, drafting the cows through the footbath once a week (Delaval automatic bath), and was wandering what suggestions people had in regards to chemical? The DeLaval sample I had been given has now run out.

Appreciated.

 

[vantage]

HI all, drafting the cows through the footbath once a week (Delaval automatic bath), and was wandering what suggestions people had in regards to chemical? The DeLaval sample I had been given has now run out.

Appreciated.

De laval bath here,bought secondhand,cows go through 2% formalin daily in winter.

 

[Blue.]

Footbath 6 times a week,3 milkings copper sulphate (25kg in 700 litres) then 3 milkings formalin (20litres in 700 litres)

Feet have been miles better since I started this religiously.

 

[surprisefarmer]

@eulb do you do this alternately or 3 runs of copper and then 3 runs of formalin?

 

[Blue.]

@eulb do you do this alternately or 3 runs of copper and then 3 runs of formalin?

3 runs,If I had two baths side by side I'd alternate.

 

[Beef farmer]

2 copper 5 formulin in winter 3 formulin a week in winter.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Was 2x formalin.

Moved to 6x copper/formalin mix.

Currently 2x off the shelf stuff, 4x formalin.

 

[Grassman247]

Footbath 6 times a week,3 milkings copper sulphate (25kg in 700 litres) then 3 milkings formalin (20litres in 700 litres)

Feet have been miles better since I started this religiously.

I second this, every animal on the farm through a massive 800 litre formalin footbath at 2% 5 times a week, feet were really bad here the last 2 years and this year we haven’t picked a foot up all winter or spring

 

[Whitepeak]

Our foot trimmer recommended us to alternate between copper sulphate and formalin. He said if you constantly use just one product you can develop a resistance, bit like constantly using the same wormer.

 

[Milkcow365]

Copper 1 week then formalin the next,
7 days a week,
Copper is bloody expensive though

 

[Blue.]

Copper 1 week then formalin the next,
7 days a week,
Copper is bloody expensive though

Last ton I bought was £1759,I figured if it saved one cow it was worth it,I had bother with foul that then tracked down the foot and turned into toe necrosis,haven't had the same this year,still getting an odd cow with foul though.

 

[Wee Willy]

I started a thread about cows with swelling/lumps between their hooves. There's a name for it but I can't remember. V painful for cow. Some suggested vet to surgically cut out lumps. Footbath for one week with formalin and lumps completely gone. Delighted.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I think you can put what you like in a footbath keeping it clean is the secret.

 

[Blue.]

I started a thread about cows with swelling/lumps between their hooves. There's a name for it but I can't remember. V painful for cow. Some suggested vet to surgically cut out lumps. Footbath for one week with formalin and lumps completely gone. Delighted.

Interdigital growths?

Regular footbathing certainly knocks them.

 

[clem dog]

What rate of formalin do most of you use?

 

[Beef farmer]

2.5 % here. 1000 liter bath. Help to keep it clean, no presure on cows as they can go through it 3 wide if they wish

 

[clem dog]

We have been bathing at around 3% formalin 3 or 4 times a week but are struggling to keep on top of digi. Would I be better going for stronger solution less often or weaker more often. My footbath holds around 150l and gets about 150 passes through before emptying.

 

[Beef farmer]

We have been bathing at around 3% formalin 3 or 4 times a week but are struggling to keep on top of digi. Would I be better going for stronger solution less often or weaker more often. My footbath holds around 150l and gets about 150 passes through before emptying.

Bigger bath and use some copper

 

[Blue.]

@happycows had a volume washer rigged up on his robot years ago,I'd be rigging up something to spray linco on feet if really bad.

Despite all the crap saying its bad to bandage feet,I wrap with either copper or lincospectin for 48hrs,my records show they clear up fine.

Had a cow in the other day for trimming at drying off ,looked back at my notes and I'd trimmed her on thr 26th of October dermatitis on both rear,not a sign now.

 

[dinderleat]

We have been bathing at around 3% formalin 3 or 4 times a week but are struggling to keep on top of digi. Would I be better going for stronger solution less often or weaker more often. My footbath holds around 150l and gets about 150 passes through before emptying.

Same situation here I upped the rate for a week and footbathed every day certainly knocked the digi back. Back on the 3% rate but bathing every day. Going to build a longer bath this summer so more dunks per foot currently 10ft going to 15ft but keep it narrow so doesn’t cost a fortune to fill.