Comparative assessment of the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures for diseases of the fingers in highly productive dairy cows

The paper provides results of studies on the effectiveness of treatment and prophylaxis for finger diseases in highly productive cows (11-13 thousand litres of milk per foraging cow) in two farms in Leningrad region. Due to diseases of the fingers, 12 cows selecteс in the first farm with a total of 350 animals leaving the herd, at the same time in another one. Farm -15 heads of 424 retired.The use of pads (heels) allows to significantly increase the effectiveness of treatment of cows with extensive and deep lesions of the fingers with fused necrotic lesions, creating conditions of rest of the diseased finger, relieve pain syndrome and lameness, Prevents injury to a healthy finger. The improvement of the clinical effect of the treatment of cows allowed to reduce the duration of treatment, to prevent possible complications, to reduce the number of animals with a severe course of disease and to cull highly productive cows. It was found that in the case of minor injuries, clinical signs and lameness were not identified at the examination. Purulent necrotic processes, finger diseases were diagnosed at late stages when pronounced clinical signs appeared in the form of lameness, open abscesses and phlegmon.The application of rubber coating of concrete floor in livestock complex has improved sanitary and hygienic conditions, since such floors make it much easier to clean them from manure, prevents it from getting between fingers, slipping animals.The introduction of specialization of orthopedic doctor in households ensures individual approach to the treatment of animals, timely detection of surgical diseases and implementation of an adequate method of treatment and prevention. While the incidence of finger disease in cows remains at a fairly high level, with a significant reduction in the number of diseases, the number of seriously ill and culled cows.