Foot Health Day

FOOT HEALTH DAY


Date: Thursday 27 April 2017

                   

Time:  11.00am - 2.30pm

Location:  Worthy Farm, Pilton, Shepton Mallet,  BA4 4EE


Event Background


DCBT have, together with the Dairy Cattle Mobility Group, organised a practical event for dairy farmers, herdsmen, veterinary surgeons and foot trimmers who have any involvement or interest in cattle lameness. 


Lameness is a constant problem for most dairy farms. Digital dermatitis remains a major cause of lameness, but many cows are still affected by classical lesions such as white line separations, sole ulcers and bruising which cause them pain, limit their productivity and shorten their lives.


But lameness is not inevitable: it can be prevented, treated and controlled and the latest research has highlighted particular areas where practical measures can make a big difference to lameness.


The   event will demonstrate the practical value of these latest research findings and allow delegates to observe, discuss and implement specific procedures to prevent and control lameness on their farms.


Thank you to Michael Eavis & John Taylor


The Trust is extremely grateful to Micahel Eavis and John Taylor for agreeing to allow us to use Worthy Farm for this event, home to the 2014 Gold Cup Winning Worthy Herd  and also for their enthusiasm and help in planning the event.


REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL as numbers are limited and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Please complete the registration form  on this page to  register.


There will be an opportunity to see the new GEA 36-point robotic parlour in action  after the event has concluded.  The parlour is the first of its kind to be built and run in the UK.   John Taylor will be on hand to   answer any questions. 


Please see to the side, the event flyer and the approximate timetable for the day.

Meet The Professionals


Dr Arturo Gomez qualified as a vet from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. He went on to complete a residency in food animal production medicine, master’s degree and a PhD at the University of Wisconsin, USA. He also has more than eight years of in-field experience having independently owned and operated a veterinary practice, consulting with dairy farms in Spain and Portugal. Currently, he is the responsible for the ruminants research and technical support in Zinpro Corporation across Europe, Middle East and Africa.


Arturo will be giving a workshop on his digital dermatitis research in which he will go through several important facets of control and prevention


Dr George Oikonomou is a Senior Lecturer in Livestock Health and Welfare and an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health. He graduated from the veterinary school at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and went on to work as a post-doc research associate at Cornell University, USA, where he his research interest into dairy cattle lameness began. He currently has a student conducting a large scale investigation into lameness risk factors, supported by The Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust.


George will be running a workshop session on housing and environment - designs to minimise lameness together with the latest thoughts on feeding and lameness in relation to fat pads in foot  including  the latest advances in cubicle comfort and underfoot surfaces


Dr Nick Bell, recently of the Royal Veterinary College and now an independent veterinary consultant, and Steve Bradbury, a highly experienced cattle foot trimmer will demonstrate the latest research findings on when and how to correctively trim feet to prevent lameness, and the right and wrong way to trim. The will give guidance on how to select a foot trimmer, and how to gauge if they are doing a good job.


Steve Paul is a highly experienced foot trimmer, and responsible for the trimming at Worthy Farm. He, and Dick Sibley, a veterinary surgeon and chairman of the Dairy Cattle Mobility Steering Group will describe the detection, diagnosis and treatment of the lame cow. Recent research shows that a lame cow is a genuine emergency, and the sooner it is treated the better. The workshop will demonstrate the first aid for feet that can be quickly and easily be provided to stop a small problem becoming a big one.


Cattle Lameness Conference 2017


The Foot Health Day follows the CATTLE LAMENESS CONFERENCE 2017 held at Sixways Stadium, Worcester on Wednesday April 26th 2017.  The Cattle Lameness Conference is aimed at veterinary surgeons and researchers, this event is also sponsored by the Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust.



Foot Health Day Flyer

Foot Health Day Event Programme

FOOT HEALTH DAY

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