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The Mackinnon Project is the exclusive distributor of Cowslips® in Australia. Cowslips® are rubber orthopaedic shoes for the treatment of lameness in cattle. They are available through private veterinarians. The Cowslip® is fitted to the healthy claw. This lifts the diseased claw off the ground, promoting more rapid healing and preventing production loss. Cowslips are most often used in dairy cattle, but are also effective in treating lameness in beef cows and bulls.
Lameness in cattleLameness in dairy cattle causes considerable economic loss and is a significant animal welfare problem. Most lameness in cattle is due to lesions in the feet, ususally involving only one claw. Elevating the affected claw means that it no longer bears any weight - this quickly relieves the pain and production loss associated with lameness. Often more than 10% of dairy cattle can be affected by claw lesions and lameness. A range of factors conrtibute to this condition, including the construction of farm tracks (sharp garavel or mud) and the structure of the hoof. When used in the early stages of lameness, Cowslips® allow cows to quickly rejoin the herd and resume milking. This eliminates the need for expensive antibiotic treaments and the accompanying milk with-holding periods. Cowslips® are supplied with a 2-stage glue and are quick and easy to apply, taking an average of 9 minutes. They are far more effective than alternative products, such as wooden blocks. Cowslips® are available in three sizes - Original (suit smaller cattle, such as Jersey's), Cowslips Plus® (for larger Holsteins) and Cowslips XL® (for large beef breeds). |