Karl Burgi

Obtain buy-in for proper hoof health management on farms

Here are six key hoof health management factors to consider and implement as dairy operations expand.

April 7, 2026

Here are six key hoof health management factors to consider and implement, which will have a significant impact on animal well-being.

A simplistic approach to hoof trimming

Managing hoof health focuses on a simplistic approach that begins with the three fundamentals of hoof care – observe, evaluate and execute.

October 16, 2025

Demetrio Bautista Ortiz and Karl Burgi

Great hoof health advances the well-being of dairy cows while improving overall farm sustainability. Managing hoof health on farms requires proper and timely execution of preventive hoof trimming.

Fine-tune the trim schedule

Take actions to prevent lameness through the critical 50-day parturition period and 60-day milk production phase by fine-tuning the hoof trimming schedule.

April 1, 2025

Karl Burgi

Good hoof health is a core factor for productive, problem-free cows. Longevity and lifetime production directly improve profitability on dairy farms; however, management must remain vigilant with respect to the health and welfare of the animal.

The correlation between hoof trimming and milk production, behavior

Combining farm data can help unravel the effect of trimming on milk production and behavior in dairy cows.

June 21, 2024

Karl Burgi and Miel Hostens

Producers express concerns that restraining cows during hoof trimming might induce both short- and long-term effects on production and behavior.

Practical footbath designs for any farm

Consider these do's and don’ts when designing an effective footbath for the dairy herd.

October 16, 2023

Karl Burgi and Roger Olson

Footbaths have been used for over 25 years for the control of infectious hoof diseases. In drawing on years of consulting with farms all over the globe, there are do's and don’ts to consider when designing a footbath and implementing practical protocols.

Breaking the 'become lame and stay lame' mentality

Too often, cows become lame, stay lame and leave the herd. In understanding the seven key factors that reduce chronic lameness, farms can break the “become lame, stay lame” cycle.

July 21, 2023

Karl Burgi

The latest data shows between 2% and 54% of dairy cows worldwide can be lame in a given year.

5 étapes pour élaborer un programme de parage des onglons réussi

En matière de parage des onglons, la planification est essentielle.

July 11, 2023

Karl Burgi

La boiterie affecte près de 25 % des vaches laitières dans le monde. Des données recueillies au cours des cinq dernières années suggèrent que, lorsque des lésions surviennent au cours de la première lactation ou avant, les probabilités sont grandes qu’elles réapparaissent au cours des lactations suivantes.

Designing concrete floors for dairy facilities to reduce lameness incidences

Factors contributing to a flooring surface with good traction include concrete floor surface, bedding type used, manure removal system and facility layout. Here is how to provide a proper and secure walking surface for cows to use for a long time.

March 17, 2023

Karl Burgi and David W. Kammel

Lameness can affect anywhere between 8% to 55% of dairy cows worldwide. The contributing causes of lameness are poor cow comfort, long standing time, heat stress, poor stockmanship and poor flooring.

Recover more of your lame cows: Here’s how

May 7, 2021

Karl Burgi

“How can I recover more of my lame cows?” That is a question posed to hoof care professionals by dairy producers frequently. The answer at face value is rather simple: Managers must focus on proactively preventing the lesions that affect the majority of their herds.

5 steps to setting up a successful timed hoof-trimming program

February 24, 2021

Karl Burgi

Lameness affects nearly 25% of dairy cows worldwide. Data from the last five years suggests that when lesions occur in first lactation or before, there is a high probability the same lesion will occur again in consecutive lactations.

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ARTICLES

Obtain buy-in for proper hoof health management on farms

A simplistic approach to hoof trimming

Fine-tune the trim schedule

The correlation between hoof trimming and milk production, behavior

Practical footbath designs for any farm

Breaking the 'become lame and stay lame' mentality

5 étapes pour élaborer un programme de parage des onglons réussi

Designing concrete floors for dairy facilities to reduce lameness incidences

Recover more of your lame cows: Here’s how

5 steps to setting up a successful timed hoof-trimming program

Another summer of water worries

3 things you need to know about bedding with manure solids

Can stress-suppressing pheromones fit into BQA best practices?

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