How Some Farms Stay Ahead of Lameness

Some farms always seem to stay one step ahead of lameness. It isn’t because they’ve found a miracle cure. And it definitely isn’t because they never get lame cows.

At some point, they simply decided to make hoof health a priority.

They made it easier to keep on top of, so small problems were dealt with before they became big ones.

None of this is complicated; but together, it makes a real difference.

They spot problems early

A cow rarely goes from sound to lame overnight. Most hoof problems build up over time. The sooner you find them, the easier they usually are to deal with.

A quick foot check today can save weeks of problems later.

They don’t wait until it’s urgent

Getting a good hoof trimmer isn’t always easy, especially at busy times of the year. But hoof problems don’t stop developing while you’re waiting.

Having the right setup on farm means you can safely inspect a foot when something doesn’t look right, keep on top of routine hoof care and make better use of the time your hoof trimmer is with you.

They make hoof care easier

Nobody puts hoof care off because they don’t care. Usually it’s because the job takes too long, it’s awkward or there are ten other things that need doing first.

The easier the job becomes, the more likely it is to get done.

And that’s often where the biggest improvements begin.

They understand the basics

You don’t need to trim cows for a living to benefit from understanding hoof health.

Knowing what a healthy foot looks like, recognising the early signs of trouble and understanding why certain treatments are recommended helps you make better decisions.

It also helps you choose the right hoof trimmer and have confidence in the work being carried out on your farm.

They don’t look for one answer

There isn’t one thing that fixes lameness. Some farms improve the way they handle cattle. Some make changes to their routine. Some spend time learning more about hoof health. Most do a bit of each.

The important thing is finding an approach that works on your farm and sticking with it.