Drought, Rain and Foot Rot
Dr. Ken McMillan
DTN
It’s that time of year again. A dry summer, followed by a rainy fall, is the perfect combination for foot rot in the herd.
Bacteria (Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus) that cause foot rot are always present in the soil. They take advantage of the weakened feet and set up infection. Fortunately, the bacteria are sensitive to many antibiotics, and early treatment with long-acting antibiotics will cure most cases.