End of Grazing Season Is the Time to Invest in Cow Roadways to Cut Lameness
Farming outlet Agriland UK advises dairy farmers to use the winter to fix cow roadways and paddock access. Poor roadways are among the main causes of lameness, which can cost a herd with high prevalence up to €15,000 a year.
As the grazing season ends and farms prepare to house cows for winter, it is a suitable moment for dairy farmers to repair the roadways cows use to reach the milking parlour and paddocks. Agriland UK, a farming news outlet, says such investment improves pasture access next spring and helps reduce lameness. Where lameness is widespread in a herd, losses can reach €15,000 a year.
Why roadways matter
Cows do not go lame in the field itself; they pick up problems while walking to and from the parlour. Uneven, stony surfaces can cause trauma and bruising to the hoof, while wet, muddy surfaces soften the claw horn and skin. White line disease is among the most common causes of lameness: the white line is one of the weakest parts of the sole and is easily damaged by grit or stones. Well-kept roadways can also reduce mastitis, because cows stay cleaner.
Costs and design
Building a 4m-wide roadway currently costs about €40 per metre, or roughly €40,000 per kilometre. Unless starting from scratch, the cost can be lower. For roads in poor condition, work can be done in small, steady stages, beginning with high-traffic areas such as the stretch nearest the parlour.
Width should be based on herd size: 4.5m for herds of up to 150 cows, plus 0.5m for every additional 100 cows. Congestion points, such as the holding yard entrance, bends and water troughs, may need up to 1m extra. Fences should sit 2ft back from the road edge, since cows avoid walking against a fence, and grass and muck then build up and trap water. If fences cannot be moved, channels every 5–10m can carry water past the verges.
A crossfall of 1 in 25 is typically recommended, meaning a 4m road should be 160mm higher on one side. After removing 10–15cm of topsoil, stone is laid. Shale is soft and comfortable but breaks down under machinery; limestone is more durable but harder on hooves; sandstone sits between the two. A layer of 804 (T1) gravel, ideally compacted with a vibrating roller, goes on top, finished with 25mm of binding.
Some farmers add astroturf for extra cushioning, but it is pointless on a poor road. Cows should also not be pushed excessively with a quad or dog, but allowed to walk at their own pace.
