Rib‑Arrow Dairy uses a fully connected system – vision monitoring, activity collars, cow‑locating tools and automated footbaths – to spot changes early and respond fast.

Lameness continues to be one of the most persistent challenges in modern dairy herds. Herd manager Skylar Gericke, overseeing both Triple G Dairy and LegenDairy – owned by the Gingg family in Buckeye, Arizona – has firsthand experience.

Following the most recent Kinder Ground’s Hoof Care Academy (KHCA) in Minnesota, the host dairy farm’s professional hoof trimmer and veterinarian spoke of the importance of collaboration to manage hoof health on a dairy. Here are the big takeaways.

Many farms underestimate the challenge of identifying lameness, thinking only 5% to 10% of their herd is lame, when in reality, it may be closer to 20% to 25%. That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) detection comes in – spotting signs the human eye might overlook.

There is more we can do nutritionally to prevent lameness in horses. Ensuring a well-balanced diet along with monitoring body condition can go a long way in preventing lameness and delaying the onset of some metabolic issues.

Your cows may not have a crystal ball, but monitoring technology used during the dry period may provide valuable information that can be used to predict the risk of potential health disorders that could affect lactation performance post-calving. Considering dry cows often are “out of sight and out of mind,” monitoring technology can fill the gap by keeping tabs on them 24-7.

Even though digital dermatitis is not exactly a new problem, questions still abound about proper prevention and control. Here are some tips for managing cattle and their environment that might help out your operation.

The team of Dr. Jen Walker, Dr. Gerard Cramer and Jamie Sullivan are using their expertise and experience to educate, train and promote the principles of hoof care, and proper functional and therapeutic trimming techniques for improved animal welfare on farms through the Kinder Hoof Care Academy Trimmer Training.