There are few things more invigorating than gathering with like-minded individuals and hearing from industry experts to bring home new concepts and ideas to your business. That is what the Hoof Trimmers Association (HTA) will accomplish at their 20th Hoof Health Conference Aug. 21-23 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Since 1990, the association has welcomed professional hoof trimmers, researchers and extension personnel as well as industry allies to attend the conference – which takes place every 18 months – to disseminate practical and pertinent information on hoof health for the betterment of the dairy and beef industries.
“As an association, our goal is to build a better [hoof] trimmer to build a better foot from a better built cow,” says Victor Daniel, HTA board member and past president. “The association acts as a base to develop that principle.”
Conference to focus on continued learning
The three-day conference includes on-farm trimming with state-of-the-art chutes being demonstrated, educational seminars and a tour of a Pennsylvania chute manufacturing facility supporting this year’s theme: “Changing the conversation in hoof care.”
“In all we do, we’re trying to assist people who want to advance their continued education,” Daniel says. “We uphold principles and concepts we deem timeless, then look at industry trends and how they are influencing said principles. Hoof trimming has evolved greatly since the first conference 35 years ago. New trends come and go, but the fact that the cow still has to be able to walk and stand comfortably is timeless.”
Educational seminars throughout the conference will include topics on automated camera detection of lameness, digital dermatitis resistance, investigating corkscrew claws, frequency of trims, the influence of genetics and more.
On Aug. 23, the group will leave the conference location for a tour of Tuffy Tables LLC and participate in on-site trimming activities.
“The conference agenda is based on what people want to learn or talk more about, based on what they hear or see in the industry,” Daniel says. “Then, we can all take this information and disperse it amongst our clients to benefit the entire cattle industry in terms of hoof health.”
Attendees are encouraged to register for a preconference trim day Aug. 20 hosted by trimmers Jason Charles and Steve Wunderlich.
Updated HTA toolbox to be unveiled in Pennsylvania
Participants of the conference and HTA members will be the first to see the newly updated HTA toolbox. The toolbox, which was first drafted and approved at the conference in 2016, can be used as a resource for hoof trimmers with concepts developed on the basis of science, law, policy and on-farm practicality.
“This is the groundwork for trimmer development and is made by trimmers and qualified advisers,” Daniel says.
The new version is set to include resources ranging from biosecurity, in-house or hiring-out trimming, to animal welfare and communicating with producers, plus more. Daniel describes it as a Rolodex of valuable information to help guide trimmers in making the best decisions for the farms they work on or work with.
“The toolbox is based on three primary principles, and each part of the toolbox has to meet these criteria: clarifying issues, simplifying solutions and improving communications between the trimmer and farmer,” Daniel explains. “In other words, how do we take this – hoof trimming as our profession – to help farms maintain and improve animal health and profitability, and make the trimmer’s life a lot easier.”
Hoof Health Conference attendees participate in an on-farm trimming session during the 1999 conference in California. Image provided by Victor Daniel.
Continuing a 35-year tradition
The HTA Hoof Health Conference was first developed in 1990 in central Minnesota as a platform for fellow hoof trimmers to connect and discuss business practices while also enjoying time away from day-to-day work. Six of the nine who attended that first conference continue to be active members of the association.
Today, the conference’s purpose remains the same, but with an elevated element added.
“We’ve always strived for the conference to foster a collaborative environment where hoof trimmers can share ideas and advance their knowledge of hoof health practices,” Daniel says. “But as we’ve grown this conference, it’s become sort of two-tiered: gathering information and knowledge from international conferences and bringing back that information to our conferences, and also sharing input from our own association back.”
The conference grew with each year, as did the association. On average, about 100 association members plus industry partners participate in the conference.
“We’re not a large bunch, but every member and those who attend are ambassadors for better hoof health in the dairy industry,” Daniel says.
More information about the conference and registration is available online for those interested in attending.
