Foot Trimming Course Recap
In June we held our first foot trimming and foot first-aid course after a hiatus from running this as a group course. Rosie and Charlie were joined by four delegates from four different farms and our affiliated professional foot trimmer Neil Bishop from KNEL Livestock Services.
We started the day with theory, getting the basics right, including anatomy of the foot, hoof structure, hoof balance, mobility scoring, causes of lameness, trimming methods and common treatments – this gave delegates a firm foundation to work from during the afternoon’s practical sessions.
After a lunch break we got stuck in to the practical side of things, splitting the group between Neil and Rosie for maximum practical exposure. Neil and Rosie covered trimming of live cows and cadaver (dead cow) feet respectively, giving the delegates an opportunity to observe and carry out safe handling of cattle, routine trimming, treating lameness lesions and exploring all foot anatomy under a safe (for cow and delegate) and controlled environment.
All delegates had the opportunity to carry out routine trimming, deal with multiple different types of lameness, apply blocks and bandages and choose correct treatment options, whilst improving upon their practical skills.
The course was a great success, with delegates leaving with the skills they needed to get back to the farm and be able to confidently deal with lameness issues, whilst also understanding the aspects of good trimming technique to ensure lameness incidence is limited – a thoroughly worthwhile course for anyone that may have to deal with hoofcare on farm!
Check out our social media pages for more images and videos of the day.
Author –
Charlie Neale
Up your herd health game! Our foot trimming course recap dives into hoof anatomy, lameness causes, treatment, and safe trimming techniques. Equip yourself to confidently handle hoof care on your farm.
