Service aims to curb lameness in herd

Decision making on which cows to breed from and how to best reduce lameness in the herd will be made easier by a recording device used by FRS (Farm Relief Services) hoof care technicians to record hoof ailments and treatments administered to each animal.

This FRS Hoofwatch service is being offered without extra charge to farmers as part of the FRS preventative and curative hoof care service.

With the permission of the farmer, herd details are uploaded automatically to the Hoofwatch device from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) database.

The FRS technician treats each cow as usual, and then enters details of lameness and treatment for each hoof inspected, and gives the farmer a printout of all the inspection details. The same information is sent to ICBF to update the farmer’s herd record.

Collective data will be analysed by ICBF to identify bloodlines which are more prone to lameness to strengthen herd health for Ireland in the future.

FRS pioneered hoof care trimming training in Ireland over 30 years ago, and has developed an expert hoof care trimming service nationwide. Preventative trimming identifies and treats ailments before they become clinical cases. Experts recommend routine trimming at least once a year, but ideally twice, ideally in conjunction with routine foot bathing.