It has been just over a year since a new Lantra-approved programme of foot trimming courses for farmers was launched through a collaborative partnership between the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) and the Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board (CHSCB). With an increasing focus on lameness due to its impact on welfare, productivity and sustainability, the aim of the courses is to provide evidence-based, accredited training at appropriate levels.
Lameness can be challenging or sometimes overwhelming for farmers to tackle, especially when they receive inconsistent or contradictory advice. Recent years have also seen a huge increase in the evidence base surrounding hoof trimming and treatment and it is important to ensure that these key messages reach all of those involved in providing advice around foot care. Therefore, the training partnership was designed to raise the standards of hoof trimming and treatment at every level; farmer, vet and hoof trimmer.
Another key aspect of the programme is the creation of strong vet–trimmer partnerships which are crucial when it comes to tackling lameness, not only on farm but at national level. The recently launched GB Dairy Cow Welfare Strategy (Ruminant Health and Welfare, 2023) lists ‘Healthy Feet’ as one of its key target areas with the ambitious goal of every UK dairy farm having a lameness management programme on farm by 2028. A successful programme needs all key stakeholders in lameness to be involved and on board, however, often the hoof trimmer can be overlooked. Therefore, working towards stronger vet–trimmer working relationships is crucial to the success of the strategy.
Vet and trimmer partnership
The importance of bringing vets and trimmers together is one of the reasons why the BCVA/CHCSB programme of courses was designed around a vet and hoof trimmer instructor team consisting of a BCVA Accredited Foot Health Trainer and a CHCSB Approved Instructor. This partnership means that farmers benefit from both the technical knowledge of the vet as well as the practical knowledge and experience of the hoof trimmer. Eligibility criteria to become an instructor adds another layer of quality assurance. To become a BCVA Accredited Foot Health Trainer, vets need to be up to date Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Mobility Mentors qualified to deliver the AHDB Healthy Feet Programme. Hoof trimmers need to hold a Regulated Qualifications Framework listed hoof trimming qualification and be fully audited by the CHCSB before they can become a CHCSB Approved Instructor. This ensures a degree of standardisation and consistency in knowledge prior to attending the joint instructor training where delivery teams are established and familiarised with the structure and content of the courses.
The Lantra approved programme consists of two courses; the introductory or basic level ‘First Aid for Feet’ aimed at those providing emergency care to the acutely lame cows and then ‘Intermediate Hoof trimming’, for those undertaking their own routine preventive hoof trimming on farm. This allows clear progression in skill level and complements the existing advanced Royal Agricultural University Level 4 qualification in Bovine Lameness and Professional Bovine Foot Trimming.
Ongoing lameness management
Regardless of the size or management system of a herd, the early detection and prompt, effective treatment of lame cows is key to ongoing lameness management. Despite its importance, there are still improvements that can be made on almost every farm, whether it be detecting cows earlier in the course of lameness or revisiting treatment techniques and protocols. This is the focus of the First Aid for Feet course; identification of the lame cow at the right time and then how to treat her following best practice to ensure the best chance of a positive outcome. Quite often lame cows are left for the next hoof trimmer visit; however, this can severely reduce their chance of a quick recovery and risk chronic lameness. Therefore, providing farmers with the confidence and skills to treat cows in between hoof trimmer visits can have a dramatic impact on lameness in the herd, as well as improving welfare for the individual lame cow.
Preventative trimming
A large proportion of farmers do their own preventive trimming. Therefore, ensuring that the most up to date techniques are used is crucial to ensuring that maximum return is seen from the time and effort invested in inspecting cows in the crush. Since overtrimming can be detrimental and actually increase the risk of a cow going lame, knowing which parts of the hoof to leave untrimmed are as important as knowing which areas to remove. This is the aim of the three day ‘Intermediate Hoof Trimming’, which sets the foundations for preventive trimming by exploring the anatomy of the cow's foot in greater detail. Emphasis is not just placed not on how to correctly inspect and trim a cow's foot but also how to determine the optimal trimming protocols for delegate's farms. There is also further discussion around the development of different lesions causing lameness and which areas to focus on for prevention.
A year on…
The first instructor training took place just over a year ago and the third is scheduled for early in the new year. There are now 20 BCVA Accredited Foot Health Trainers and 12 CHCSB Approved Trimming Instructors.
This is a great start to the courses which are ensuring that farmers are trained to a certified level of competence and armed with the most up to date skills and knowledge that they need to tackle lameness on their farms. This not only helps to improve the health and welfare of the individual lame cow but also contributes significantly to the wider strategic plan of improving hoof health across the UK's herds.