Facts:
Digital Dermatitis (DD) is a contagious claw disease, which secondary cause other claw diseases as heel horn erosion, interdigital hyperplasia, warts and lameness. Lameness is the most common cause of poor animal health, poor durability and large economic losses. Claw diseases and lameness is increasing in pace with the transition from tied to loose housed cows because of the infectious pressure increases and the feet are becoming more exposed to poor hygiene and trauma.
Primary prevention of these disorders and lameness, is biosecurity, good stall hygiene and proper management. Footbath with 8% copper sulphate solution currently recommended, has in Swedish trials been shown to reduce the risk for DD ten times compared to a water bath. However, copper is a pollutant covered by the European biocides directive.