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LAMENESS
SPRING 2012 ISSUE
Vet Training:
Andrew Maxwell, of XLVets Farm
First Vets in Abergavenny attended
one of the first DairyCo mentor
training workshops in 2011.
‘I had an interest in lameness and as
no-one else in the practice had done the
Healthy Feet mentor training I thought it
would be a good opportunity to get more
focused and to have someone in the
practice who specialised in the subject.
‘The mentor training was well run and I
felt very well prepared for going on-farm
to introduce the programme.
‘I've worked through the first three stages
of the programme with one farmer. Part
three was completed just before Christmas
and I'll be returning for another visit
shortly. I've also just started the
programme with another client.
‘I've been impressed by the farmers - they
know a lot more about the types of foot
problems that arise and the potential
solutions, so that's very encouraging for
the industry.’
How the
DairyCo Healthy
Feet Programme
works
for the farmer:
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
14
Independent mobility score
Step one:
Training, skills review
and diagnosis
Step two:
Full farm risk
assessment
The mobility mentor visits the farm and
carries out an assessment of a proportion
of cows' feet. Different diseases and
how they arise are discussed and the
foot-trimming process reviewed.
Step four:
Recording,
monitoring, reviewing
An action plan in itself will not reduce
lameness. The farm team will use
appropriate recording of all lame cows
and lesion types found during routine foot
checks. Mentors will ensure that the herd
is mobility scored (ideally independently)
on a three monthly basis to measure
progress. The review phase is probably
the most important step for encouraging
effective changes to take place.
The mentor visits the farm to carry out a
thorough risk assessment of the farm and
management with respect to lameness
going everywhere the cows go.
Step three:
Action plan
The mentor is now in a position to help
the farm team understand where the
critical points on the farm are in relation
to lameness. Solutions are discussed and
action points agreed.