**6.4 Lameness management**

Lameness is reported as the third most economically important disease in world after infertility and mastitis [17]. It is a major cause of involuntary culling after mastitis. About 90% of lameness in dairy cattle and buffaloes occurs due to foot lesions. Recommended guidelines for prevention of lameness include hoof

trimming of all the animals at every 6 months and footbath of size 3 m long, 1 m wide and 15 cm high. Formalin (39–40%) should be preferred for foot bathing as a 4% solution (120 L water +5 L of formalin) in the footbath. Concrete footbaths are best and cheaper. In case there are few animals (unorganized farms), formalin spray (40 ml per liter of water) can be used on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day of every fortnight along with close monitoring of animal gait at the time of walking.

### **6.5 Oral magnet feeding**

Hardware disease is a common term for *bovine traumatic reticulo-peritonitis,* which is usually caused by the ingestion of a sharp, metallic object. Due to industrialization and urbanization, it is commonly found in dairy cattle, than any other ruminants. It can be difficult to conclusively diagnose, but can be prevented by the oral administration of a magnet around the time that the animal reaches the age of 1 year. This innovative technology is beneficial to control Traumatic Reticulo-Peritonitis (TRP) that occurs due to the intake of any sharp foreign object such as nails, blades etc. along with feed by the animal.
