Dr Justin Schooth, from Gympie Veterinary Services will facilitate a hands-on, practical session focusing on treating lameness in our dairy herds.

Why 'healthy hooves' is an important topic:

Lame cows take time, energy and skill to treat properly.
Lame cows represent a financial cost to your farm business and, therefore, impact on profitability.
Lame cows produce less milk, lose weight, and take longer to cycle.
Reducing the number of lame cows in your herd requires a long-term, planned approach that is supported by the whole farm team.

This session will focus on the key skills required to maintain healthy hooves in dairy herds. Justin will discuss the options for treating lameness, and the equipment required to tether cows for hoof examinations and demonstrate how to do so safely.Participants will have the opportunity to use the tools that are required to trim and repair hooves to optimise hoof health in their herds.

To view a recording of a discussion that covers the theoretical aspects of hoof health with Dr Justin Schooth, click here.

There are also other resources available to assist dairy farmers in maintaining healthy hooves at the Dairy Australia website.For a copy of the Complete Guide to Preventing and Managing Lameness, click here.Or view some videos on the Dairy Australia YouTube channel here.

SD FNC Healthy Hooves March 2025