The objective of this study was to collect information regarding hoof care professionals' billing practices and to gather their opinions about foot disorders and the value of their prevention. Responses were gathered from veterinarians (n = 18) and hoof trimmers (n = 116) through both online and paper survey platforms. Because of the limited number of respondents, veterinarian responses were not further analyzed. Of the 6 foot disorders included in the survey, the treatment cost per case was greatest for toe ulcers (mean ± standard deviation; $20.2 ± 8.5), sole ulcers ($19.7 ± 8.6), white line disease ($19.5 ± 8.1), and thin soles ($18.1 ± 8.1), and least for infectious disorders (foot rot and digital dermatitis; $8.0 ± 7.6 and $7.5 ± 9.6, respectively). Of the disorders, digital dermatitis represented most of the foot disorder cases treated by respondents over the past year (43.9 ± 20.4%), whereas toe ulcers and thin soles represented the least (5.3 ± 4.1 and 5.3 ± 5.7%, respectively). Respondents that served mostly large herds (>500 lactating cows) reported a lower prevalence of digital dermatitis (31.6 ± 4.2 vs. 44.4 ± 3.4 and 46.7 ± 3.2% in small and medium herds, respectively) and a higher prevalence of sole ulcers (23.1 ± 3.0 vs. 13.4 ± 2.4 and 13.3 ± 2.3% in small and medium herds, respectively). Region of the United States (Northeast, Midwest, or other) also influenced foot disorder prevalence; respondents from the Northeast reported more sole ulcers than respondents from other regions (22.1 ± 2.3 vs. 12.4 ± 3.3%). When respondents were asked which disorder was associated with the greatest total cost per case to the producer (treatment and labor costs plus the reduction in milk yield, reduced reproductive performance, and so on), hoof trimmers ranked digital dermatitis as having the greatest total cost per case and thin soles as having the least total cost per case. Finally, respondents indicated that the most important benefits of reducing foot disorders were enhanced animal welfare and increased milk production, whereas the least important benefit was reduced veterinary and hoof trimmer fees. Results from this survey can be used to improve the accuracy of foot disorder cost estimates and contribute to better decision-making regarding both foot disorder treatment and prevention.

这项研究的目的是收集有关修蹄专业人士计费方式的信息，并收集他们对脚部疾病及其预防价值的看法。通过在线和纸质调查平台收集了来自兽医（n = 18）和修蹄师（n = 116）的回复。由于答复者的数量有限，因此未对兽医的答复进行进一步的分析。在调查中包括的6种脚部疾病中，针对脚趾溃疡（平均±标准差; 20.2±8.5美元），单纯性溃疡（19.7±8.6美元），白线病（19.5±8.1美元）和稀薄的每例治疗费用最大。鞋底（$ 18.1±8.1），以及最少的传染病（脚腐烂和指皮炎；分别为$ 8.0±7.6和$ 7.5±9.6）。在这些疾病中 在过去的一年中，数字皮肤炎占受访者治疗的大多数脚部疾病病例（43.9±20.4％），而脚趾溃疡和薄鞋底最少（分别为5.3±4.1和5.3±5.7％）。服务于大多数大群（> 500头泌乳牛）的受访者报告的数字性皮炎患病率较低（中小牧群分别为31.6±4.2和44.4±3.4和46.7±3.2％），而单独溃疡的患病率较高（23.1）在中小型牛群中分别为±3.0与13.4±2.4和13.3±2.3％）。美国地区（东北，中西部或其他地区）也影响了脚部疾病的患病率；东北地区的受访者报告的单独溃疡比其他地区的受访者要多（22.1±2.3与12.4±3.3％）。当询问被调查者哪种疾病与生产者的总成本最高有关（治疗和人工成本加上牛奶产量的下降，生殖性能下降等）时，修蹄师将数字皮炎列为总成本最高的方法。每箱，薄底，因为每箱总成本最低。最后，受访者表示，减少脚部疾病的最重要好处是增加动物福利和增加牛奶产量，而最不重要的好处是减少兽医和修蹄费用。该调查的结果可用于提高脚部疾病成本估算的准确性，并有助于在脚部疾病的治疗和预防方面做出更好的决策。