Hoof Baths in the System of Measures to Ensure the Health of the Hooves of Cows

Lameness is widespread in dairy cattle herds all over the world, which causes significant damage, mainly affecting dairy productivity, and leads to financial losses. The purpose of this work was to determine the necessity of using hoof baths with copper sulfate in the daily work of livestock farms for disinfection of hooves and prevention of Mortellaro disease. Holstein cows were selected as objects for research work. Preventive measures were not applied to the cows of the control group, and in the experimental group therapeutic and hygienic baths with a 2.5% solution of copper sulfate in 200 liters of water were used to prevent finger dermatitis of cows and strengthen the hoof horn. According to the results of the study, the picture of a decrease in cases of interdigital dermatitis when using hoof baths is clearly visible. In the experimental group, the identified cases of Mortellaro had a mild form of M1, which were easily treated with bandages with powder consisting of zinc oxide, boric acid, acetylsalicylic acid, Egocin 20 (1:1:1:0,5). With a double change of dressings with an interval of 3 days, regeneration of the skin and the disappearance of clinical signs of the disease were observed. In the control group, the detected cases were in the stage from M1 to M3. The nature of the diseases was average, with a three-time change of the therapeutic dressing, the recovery time for sick cows was 9 days.