New Animal Health Ireland hoof health programme launched

In an attempt to curb the €145m annual loss caused by lameness in the national dairy herd, AHI has launched its new Hoof HealthCheck Programme

Michelle McGrath, Hoof HealthCheck programme manager, Animal Health Ireland; vet Willie Buckley, Riverview Vets, Bandon, Co Cork; dairy farmer Nigel Bryan, Fountainstown, Co Cork; and Dr Muireann Connealy, dairy welfare senior research officer, Teagasc.

The national lameness prevalence of 10% in dairy herds equates to a national loss of €145m annually.

Aiming to curb the annual €145m costs, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has launched its new Hoof HealthCheck Programme for the dairy sector.