* Many farmers know that after spreading
* agricultural lime on lanes hoof problems
* decrease.
*
* Does anyone know why and what it is in lime
* that does this?
Hi,
I can confirm that I believe that it helps, but I don't know exactly why.
This was a very common practice in this area in earlier years, but less so in
recent decades.
We generally spread the lime in low or wet spots in the lanes. But most often
we spread it on the lane near where the cows went off the concrete. As you
know, that it generally a wet spot.
We thought that agricultural lime was:
(1) an antiseptic that killed bacteria and
(2) that it somehow toughened the hoof. Also, we thought that
(3) some got embeded in the hooves and made much better traction on concrete.
-----
Prior to our switch to industralized dairy farming, we swept the milking barn
floor with hydrated lime.
This was partly because we thought it reduced hoof problems as the cows picked
up some lime 2x or 3x daily on their feet.
After removing the manure with a shovel, we poured a small pile of hydrated
lime on the concrete (from the bag) and swept it along with a barn broom.
This practice also gave the milking stable a clean neat appearance and
eliminated odor.
I would say that this use of hydrated lime was a universal practice at the
time, and was the origin of the widely held belief that agricultural lime was
good for cows feet.
--
Kindest regards,
=======================
F. W. Owen
Owenlea Holsteins
9430 Spencer Road
Homerville, Ohio 44235
e-mail fwo@bright.net
home page http://www.bright.net/~fwo
voice & fax 330.625.2369
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