Dairy producers today know the importance of using footbath additives correctly to achieve best results from their hoof health program. Here is a sample program using the HoofMax additive from AgroChem for copper and zinc sulfate footbaths for best results .
Measurements and simple math calculations are all that is needed. Once you know your footbath capacity, you can determine the proper amounts of copper sulfate and HoofMax needed to obtain optimum benefits.
Multiply the length, width, and height of the footbath in inches then divide by 231:
L x W x H ÷ 231 = footbath capacity in gallons
The amount of copper sulfate needed depends on your current Cu usage and your footbath size. A good rule of thumb is to use from 50-60% of the current amount of copper. The chart below will help:
Footbath size <50 gal, 10-12 lb Cu
Footbath size 50 gal, 10-15 lb Cu
Footbath size >50 gal, Add additional 2 – 2.5 lbs copper for every 10 gallons above 50 gal capacity
Footbath size <50 gal, 12-15 lb Cu
Footbath size 50 gal, 15-25 lb Cu
Footbath size >50 gal, Add additional 2.5 – 5 lbs copper for every 10 gallons above 50 gal capacity
The amount of HoofMax to use for best results is determined by multiplying 12 oz HoofMax by every 100 cow passes:
12 oz HoofMax x Every 100 cow passes = Total ounces of HoofMax needed
The maximum cow passes for 50 gallons of water is 500; the maximum cow passes for 100 gallons of water is 1000.
To illustrate, let’s say you have 300 cows and are currently using 20 lbs of copper per bath that measures 32″ wide by 66″ long by 5″ in height.
32 x 66 x 5 ÷ 231 = 45.7 gallon footbath capacity
According to the chart above, the amount of copper sulfate needed for a 45.7 gallon capacity footbath for your farm is between 10 and 12 lbs. Next, take the number of cow passes (300) and calculate the amount of HoofMax needed by multiplying 12oz by 3 (1 for every 100 cows to pass).
12oz x 3 = 36oz of HoofMax
For maximum hoof hardness and minimum hoof rot, this protocol should be run at least 3 to 4 consecutive days per week if it is the only hoof bath product being used.
Hoofmax, the original additive for footbaths based on copper or zinc sulfate, not only allows producers to reduce their copper sulfate usage, but it also reduces the overall cost of their footbath program. Even when the bath is heavily loaded with manure and urine, HoofMax optimizes footbath chemistry to significantly increase the potency of copper or zinc sulfate and enables the copper to continue working. This allows you to use less copper and change the bath less frequently.
Contact your dealer or an AgroChem representative for help in determining copper availability for each farm’s individual protocol.