✓ Foot Rot is defined as a highly contagious disease in cloven-hoofed mammals that causes inflammation of the hoof and subsequent lameness and discomfort to the animal.
✓ Foot Rot causes stress to the animal that can lead to reduced feed and water intake and a decline in meat and milk yields.
✓ It is estimated that approximately 20% of lameness in all cattle is attributed to Foot Rot .
✓ However, in the beef industry alone, it is estimated that closer to 75% of all diagnosed lameness can be attributed to Foot Rot. Feedlot cattle have been reported to have close to half a pound lower average daily gains while they are combating Foot Rot.
✓ Therefore Foot Rot represents a significant economic loss to the industry due to reduced yields.
✓ Foot Rot is caused by the co-existence of two gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria - Fusobacterium Necrophorum and Dichelobacter Nodosus (also referred to as Bacteroides Nodosus). Several different strains of D. Nodosus affect both sheep and goats, and can also be carried by cattle, deer, and horses.
✓ The main Foot Rot-causing bacteria in cattle is Fusobacterium Necrophorum, a ubiquitous bacterium found in the environment.
- Researchers have isolated it on the surface of healthy feet, in the rumen and in the faeces of cattle.
✓ Foot Rot in sheep is caused by the Dichelobacter Nodosus bacteria which lives in the feet of infected sheep. For Foot Rot to develop, it must be present in the foot.
- Other bacteria that are present on healthy feet can increase the virulence of F. necrophorum and therefore increase the incidence of Foot Rot.
- Injury to the hoof caused by walking on rough surfaces or standing in wet, damp and muddy conditions, results in a weakening of the hoof tissues allowing the bacteria to set in and cause infection.
- Another common cause of Foot Rot is when animals move suddenly from wet conditions to dry conditions. This can cause the skin to become chapped and cracked, allowing F. necrophorum to enter into the tissues of the hoof and cause infection.
✓ HOOFX consists of a mixture of micro-organisms and bacteria occurring naturally in the environment – including aerobic, anaerobic, nitrifying and Sulphur oxidizing bacteria and enzymes which create proteins that catalyze and significantly accelerate the biochemical reactions and natural processes of treating the bacteria that causes Foot Rot.
✓ HOOFX rapidly breaks down the bacterial strains that cause Foot Rot and treats the actual bacterial cause of Foot Rot with a blend of naturally occurring “good bacteria” that overpowers the “bad bacteria” that cause Foot Rot infections.
✓ HOOFX is 100% Natural and Safe for Use and will not cause any harm to humans, animals or their by-products such as milk, wool and meat.
- No withdrawal period is required.
✓ The foot bath is ideal for dairy cows as they walk to the milking area - but dips and other similar walk through areas can be used for beef cattle, sheep and goats.
✓ For best practise prevention of Foot Rot, use a 250 litres walk through foot bath with a 1% HOOFX solution diluted in water. The product must be mixed well into the footbath for best results.
✓ This prevention method will show rapid improvements and results in the first 3 days .
✓ Where possible it is suggested to have an initial walk through foot bath with clean water just before the treatment foot bath to pre-clean the hooves.
✓ When Footbath is 50% empty top up with 50% of initial footbath product dose.
- Allow cows to walk through footbath slowly to increase contact time.
- Ensure hooves are covered by water levels at all times.
Frequency of footbath dependant on herd infection levels and seasonality.
Ask your Veterinarian for best practise dosage advice and protocols.
✓ Once an infection has been noted, the animal must be isolated in a dry, flat area with no stones, gravel or other objects that can damage the hoof.
✓ Use of a Footbath is suggested as best practise treatment as often there is
more than one infected hoof which requires treatment.
- Use a 3 % dilution dosage
- Top up footbath when 50% empty with 50% of initial footbath dosage.
- Allow cows to walk through footbath slowly to increase contact time.
- Double Pass through footbath if operations permit.
- Ensure hooves are covered by water levels at all times.
- In Wet Seasons and high herd infection rates suggest 2x / 3x frequency per
week
- Reduce to 1 x per week according to herd health observations
✓ The same footbath solution can be used for up to 3 days of treatment.
Ask your Veterinarian for best practise dosage advice and protocols.
✓ IF A FOOTBATH IS NOT AVAILABLE:
- Mix HOOFX at a 3 % dilution in water in a bucket or claw bag and ensure the
product is mixed well with water. It is suggested to use 750ml - 1 litre of water per
hoof to ensure adequate coverage of the entire hoof.
- Place the hoof in the bucket or bag for a few minutes.
- Depending on the severity of infection the hoof should be treated for between 3 to 7
days. In most cases 3 days of treatment should suffice.
- The same solution can be re-used on several animals.
NB: Once HOOFX has been mixed with water, the solution will only last for 3 days, after which it must be discarded.
It is 100% safe for the environment to flush down drains and to be used to water crops and grass. It is an excellent fertilizer for plant growth and soil rehabilitation.
It will also assist in odor control of waste water dams and slurry pits.
NO PRODUCT IS WASTED.
When Foot Rot is internal and the skin swells but is not punctured , it is advisable to puncture the swelling and use a syringe without a needle to spray HOOFX directly into the swelling and infected area. This will accelerate recovery in the event of internal swelling.
Note for best results treat the entire infected hoof and not only the visible infected area.
HOOFX is a simple and extremely safe product to use on all cloven hooved animals and it out performs all other Foot Rot footbath treatment and
prevention solutions on the market today.
Ask your Veterinarian for best practise dosage advice and protocols.