Professional Hoof Trimming Course Proposal for 2024
Trainers: Ned Dunphy Professional Hoof trimmer and trainer
Ger Cusack MVB MRCVS Cert DHH
Bob Twigg Professional Hoof Trimmer
Ger Malone (Manual handling)
Syllabus and Timetable for 5 day course
Day 1:
A.M. Welcome and introductions
Anatomy of the bovine foot
Rationale behind the trimming of feet
Common lesions of the bovine foot
5 Step Dutch Method of foot trimming
12.00 Practical demonstration of 5 Step Dutch Method of hoof trimming
P.M. Practical hoof trimming on live cows
Day 2:
A.M. Equipment and tools required for hoof trimming
Safe use of knives and grinders
Knife sharpening skills
Introduction to Mobility Scoring
10.30 Practical hoof trimming
P.M. Practical hoof trimming on live cows
Practical Mobility Scoring
Day 3:
A.M. Manual handling and avoiding injury
Cow welfare and the impact of impaired mobility on same
P.M. Practical hoof trimming on live cows
Day 4:
A.M. Cost of lameness to farmers and to the industry
Prevention of lameness at farm level
Footbaths and control of infectious causes of lameness
Roadways and farm infrastructure
Achieving good cow flow on dairy farms
Cow handling skills
12.00 Practical hoof trimming
P.M. Practical session covering roadways and general farm infrastructure
Lameness risk assessment on a dairy farm
