Green. AgroN. Skin- and hoof care products

Transcription

1 Green AgroN H3 Skin- and hoof care products

2 Hoof diseases have a high price A

3 Gre gr Only one out of four lame cows are recognised by the farmer. When both milk yield, fertility and durability of the cow are depressed, one must consider hoof diseases. Often, feed and management will be examined, due to the lack of recognition of hoof diseases. Ref.: Dairy specialist Bodil Mellerup (Landbo Limfjord), DVM Astrid Mikél Jensen (LRØ), Dairy specialist Christine Schleisner (Syddansk Kvæg), DVM Pia Nielsen (Dansk Kvæg) og Project coordinator Ulrik Toftegaard (Dansk Kvæg). Numerous trials have revealed that lameness leads to decreased welfare, milk yield, poor reproduction and increased medical treatments. Ref.: Anne Mette Danscher, Copenhagen University. The etiology behind the hoof disease digital dermatitis (DD), also known as Mortellaro disease, is not completely understood, but the bacteria Treponema is recognized as being the major cause. Treponema is not recognised as a strong bacteria, and in normal habitats on grass, the cow will not develop DD, because the skin surrounding the hoof is dry and strong enough to withstand possible Treponema infections. Under normal conditions, the skin of the cow will produce an oily acid secrete with a ph-value of approx Along with intact skin this secrete is the crucial first line defence against bacterial infection. Since Treponema is highly sensitive to acids, the risk of infection and development of DD are very unlikely. Also on grass, the hoofs are cleaner and more exposed to oxygen, which is highly toxic to Treponema. Digital dermatitis in the cowshed In the cowshed, digetal dermatitis can develop fast, because of the biochemical imbalances and wet hoof environment, that provides Treponema with optimal conditions of life. The biochemical imbalances are caused by bacteria that produces, amongst others, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. Ammonia dissolves the oily secrete and skin tissue and hydrogen sulphide removes oxygen from the hoof area. This increases the infection rate of Treponema and subsequently increases the level of digital dermatitis.

4 Green AgroN H3 Healthy hooves in dairy productions Green Agron is a hoof care product that can be dissolved in hoof baths. Improves the health status of the hooves. For dairy cows and heifers. Strengthens the skin and promotes wound healing. Cleans and dries the hooves. Neutralises ammonia and sulphides. Decreases the ph-value in the hoof environment. Increases the hardness and resistance of the hooves.

5 DIRECTIONS FOR USE Hoof bath Dosage of Agron First month: 10-15% Green Agron solution (10-15 kg/100l) in hoof bath twice a week. This must be combined with treatment with Red Agron on all remaining days in the week. Apply a covering layer of Red Agron on the skin around the wound and in the hair/skin region above, to allow Red Agron to run down in the skin around the wound and precipitate. Make sure that the skin and hair are saturated with Red Agron. Make sure that the hooves are not exposed to water in the milking parlour. Do not flush manure away with water, when cows are in the milking parlour. Do this between the cow rotations, in order to avoid wet hooves. Application example: Green Agron: Monday and Thursday. Red Agron: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, (Saturday and Sunday). Second and future months: Continue with 10 % Green Agron in hoof bath twice a week. Only use Red Agron in case of new infections. How to dissolve Agron Fill the hoof bath with warm water (above 25 0 C) to ease dissolution of Green Agron. (NEVER add Green Agron first and water afterwards). Add half of Green Agron over the full surface and stir firmly with a clean manure scraper until it is dissolved. Add the second half over the full surface and stir firmly until it is dissolved. (This will prevent the formation of a gum-like precipitate.) 30 minutes after dissolving Green Agron, the hoof bath is ready. Hooves must remain as dry as possible before entering the Green Agron hoof bath, so do not let cows enter a hoof bath with water before entering the Green Agron hoof bath. Size of hoof bath and herd size 1 litre of Green Agron solution corresponds to the passage of one cow. So a hoof bath of 150 litres will fit for the passage of 150 cows once. We recommend to use hoof baths between litres and with a length of 2 m or above. If the herd size is bigger than 300 cows, we recommend to use more than one hoof bath, or if the herd is divided into groups, to use a hoof bath for every group. If the herd is 100 cows, we still recommend to use minimum a 150 litres hoof bath. Expected effects from the use of Agron After a couple of weeks, the number of lame cows will decrease and the cow activity will increase. After four weeks, all wound areas should be covered with a black scab. This must not be removed. After 3-4 months, there should be a significant decrease in number of cows with wounds. After healing of wounds, the use of Agron should be continued, in order to prevent new cases. Reasons for insufficient effect No knowledge of the volume of the hoof bath. Insufficient stirring and dissolution of Green Agron or using cold water to dissolve Green Agron (gum-like precipitate formation). Reusing washing water to dissolve Green Agron. Reusing the Green Agron hoof bath. Combining Green Agron with hoof wash of any kind. Using alkaline and high ph-value products, like hydrated lime in resting areas. Non-continuous use of Green Agron or lack of use of Red Agron in the first month. Not enough patience with the Green Agron treatment.

6 Red AgroN H3 Liquid skin- and hoof care products Red Agron can be used for both cows and heifers in case of hoof diseases, udder wounds and other types of skin infections. Unique skin- and hoof care products ready for use in hand-held and backpack sprayers. Strengthens the skin and improves wound healing. Makes the hoof strong and resistant. Provides clean and dry hoofs. Good adhesive capacity ensuring a prolonged effect. Neutralises ammonia and hydrogen sulphides and their harmful effect. Lowers the ph-value on the skin.

7 DIRECTIONS FOR USE Hoof bath Application Apply concentrated Red Agron daily or as often as possible with a hand or knapsack sprayer directly on problem areas, or, without dilution, in the milking robot. Apply a covering layer on and above the problem area, to allow Red Agron to run down in the problem areas and precipitate. Make sure that the skin and hair at the problem area are saturated with Red Agron. Continue treatment until problem areas have healed up. When starting hoof treatment with Green Agron in hoof bath, use Red Agron on days with no hoof baths in the first 30 days. No kind of hoof wash or other kinds of washing can be combined with the use of Red Agron, as this will decrease the effect of the product significantly. Always try to maintain skin and hooves as dry as possible. The effect of Red Agron cannot be expected until after several weeks of continuous use. Hereafter the problem areas will appear black with a crust. This indicates an effect of Red Agron and that the dosage is appropriate. The black crusts must not be removed from wounds, but must be allowed to stay on the wound until complete healing.

8 Green AgroN H3 Effect of Agron on digital dermatitis University trial including 389 SDM dairy cows from four Danish farms, 2011 Evaluated by Biochemist Jan van Wyhe-Storgaard 450 Number of hoof registra0ons Day 0 Day 30 Day No DD Healing stage DD Early small DD Acute ac;ve DD Late chronic DD 389 dairy cows from four Danish farms were included in the trial. Digital dermatitis (DD) registrations have been performed on all rear legs, giving a total of 778 hoof registrations at each measuring time point. The time duration of the trial was 60 days, including measuring time points at day 0 (initiation of Agron application), day 30 and day 60. All together, this gave a total of hoof registrations. The results showed that cows in group No DD and Healing stage DD increases during the Agron trial period, indicating a healing of digital dermatitis. At the same time, the Early small DD, Acute active DD and Late Chronic DD significantly decreased during the same period with Agron treatment.

9 Before treatment with Agron. The wound has been washed, to reveal the characteristic pattern of a digital dermatitis infection. After treatment with Agron for two weeks. The black stained scab has closed the wound and the healing process has started. Digital dermatitis reduction after treatment with Agron for 30 and 60 days Reduction in digital dermatitis Day 30 Reduction in digital dermatitis Day 60 Early small DD* 88 % 97 % Acute active DD* 54 % 86 % Late chronic DD* 69 % 89 % Reduction of DD are expressed in relative percentage to the initial DD level before Agron treatment (Day 0). (*DD = digital dermatitis)

10 ph- value Alkaline solution Acid solution Neutral Hydrated lime Pathogenic bacteria can survive within this interval. Thick line: Optimum ph value Calcium carbonate Moler earth Green Red AgroN Caustic soda Cloride Stable floor Blue vitriol H3 Clean water Skin, udder, hoofs Cola Hand soap Fruit Ammonia Ammonia Ammonium AgroNH3 A 1 0 sulphuric acid/hydrochloric acid Above is illustrated ph-values for several different products and objects. The phvalue in cowsheds are usually too high and alkaline, because of ammonia build up. This increases the risk of animal infections and diseases, including hoof diseases. Green and Red Agron has a phvalue under 3, which makes them weak acids. This characteristics, together with other effects, recreates healthy skin and hooves, allowing the skin and hooves to heal.

11 g R Feedback from users of Agron: I use Green Agron twice a week in foot bath. Here I have obtained a significant reduction in digital dermatitis with my heifers and old cows. Digital ulcers were blackened and healed. We can keep digital dermatitis at a minimum with two weekly foot baths with 10% Green Agron. I can see a noticeable decrease in cow lameness after regular use of Green Agron. Digital dermatitis has decreased more than 50% after I started with Green Agron in foot bath. After starting with Green Agron, digital dermatitis wounds turned black and the infection died out. My hoof trimmer was surprised by this. My cows had problems with digital dermatitis and soft hooves with cracks. After starting with Green Agron, my hoof trimmer says that there are significantly fewer dressings this time. He said that the hooves were much harder and healthier with a marked reduction in the number of cracks. Hooves have been significantly harder to cut compared to last time. My hoof trimmer has seen a clear effect of Green Agron with healing of digital dermatitis lesions and formation of black areas. TI can see clear black areas of digital dermatitis lesions with healing to follow.

12 Green AgroN H3 Skin and hoof care products part of Vitfoss Ulsnæs 34 DK-6300 Graasten Denmark Phone: Fax: