thoughts on feet

[common sense]

I have dealt with all types of hoof problems over the years including what I call "quarter cracks".  I have had people give me all kinds of reasons for them including hereditary issues, feed, mineral and weather conditions.  I currently have a young cow that developed SIX quarter cracks this past summer.  She comes from a long strong cow family with great feet and the same can be said about the sire's side.  She had a terrible time this summer and I have babied her along to this point where she is doing quite well.  I have talked to my farrier and he ordered a product for filling quarter cracks that works miracles on horses.  I guess what I am wondering is if anyone has any thoughts about this kind of foot problem, how you may have dealt with it and any other input.  Just thought it would be nice to have a new subject.

 

[renegade]

On the quarter cracks for horses we rasp a horizantol line at the top of the quarter crack(vertical) to keep it from  getting worse and then you fill it.

 

[cattlechick]

Back to the origianl reasons...How is your mineral program and what is the ground like that they are on? Dry, wet???

 

[common sense]

My cows are on a great mineral program which includes "avala four" etc.  We really kicked it up a few years ago when we started flushing and we were having some foot issues that I wasn't happy with.  Since then we haven't had any issues with feet.  I just have to wonder if this young cow didn't have some other issues at some point that affected her feet.  This is just so severe.  We have had a very unusual summer in that we went from really wet to really dry and then back to unusually wet. 

Back to the origianl reasons...How is your mineral program and what is the ground like that they are on? Dry, wet???