Advanced hoof care management course

Gain knowledge and practical skills. Lameness is now amongst the top three health issues on-farm and it is costing New Zealand dairy farmers millions of dollars every year.

Course Information:

ASHBURTON: 25 - 29 Sept 2023, 4 - 8 December 2023, and 6 - 10 May 2024.

BOOK NOW: $2,750 + gst per person

This is an intensive 5-day course that covers both the theory and the practice of hoof care and hoof trimming techniques led by our director Fred Hoekstra, who is NZ’s only fully qualified hoof care instructor. Held at DHI headquarters and on local host farms. Register today at dhi.ac.nz

The course was brilliant- it was some of the best learning that I have ever had, I certainly feel more equipped to work with farmers and other vets in hoof trimming and treatment, as well as in a lameness advisory role. The experience has been invaluable to my future career.

Kate Mackersey, Massey University Vet Student

This allows them to prioritise their investments wisely, ensuring that both time and money are well spent, and potential issues are nipped in the bud, preventing escalated costs in the long run.

Veterinary clinics across the country that become members of WelFarm also become part owners of the platform, ensuring that it stays true to its mission of adding value on farms. The platform remains practical and relevant, incorporating the latest developments in science and knowledge to determine if updates or changes are necessary.

When farms join the WelFarm programme they collaboratively plan the upcoming season with their vet clinic, scheduling various activities at key times. Relevant information is entered into the WelFarm portal, which the farmers can also access.

The portal serves as a valuable repository, containing comments and recommendations surrounding the data, which can be referred back to in future seasons.

More farmers are engaging every season, seeing the need to understand what is happening with their herd to frontfoot any issues, compare to other farms and get tailored support from their vet.

One farmer in particular who has gleaned a lot from WelFarm is Janet Poihipi, who is managing 400 cows near Hawai on State Highway 35 on the east coast.

Following the recommendations from her vet has been a game-changer.

“I see the cows every day, so it’s been valuable having someone else come in and highlight what is really happening,” Poihipi says.

when there were sharemilkers on the farm, which belongs to the Tunapahore B2A Incorporation. When the last sharemilker left in 2019 the trust bought their own herd and Poihipi became 2IC.

She had fallen into dairy farming after moving to the Bay of Plenty from Southland, where she had been working in shearing sheds for at least a decade.

The choice was between kiwifruit or cows and although she had never been around cows, she was keen to give it a go.

Poihipi ended up doing two roles in her third season after going full time, as the manager was on sick leave for over a year.

During a meeting with the trustees and their vets and other support people, the current manager said he would step away permanently due to his health issues and Poihipi was offered the role.

“We signed up to the WelFarm programme through our vets who come out three times a year to body condition score the herd.

has had a massive impact on my own wellbeing.”

She has been able to utilise the WelFarm results to help the trustees prioritise improvements, such as bringing in more feed to increase body condition scores and do some work on the races to help minimise lameness challenges.

“The vets give us great feedback and it’s helped my communication with the trustees with updates about the herd and where we’re at, and it empowers them to be more involved too.”

With the right support she is smashing her reproductive performance and production goals and the farm was a finalist in the Ahuwhenua Trophy Excellence in Māori Farming Award for Dairy in 2021.

“Being part of the WelFarm programme has lifted my own self-esteem knowing the girls are looked after well, which makes my job a lot easier.

“I’ve got a good relationship with our vet, Ben Miller from the Veterinary Health Centre, and I trust his recommendations.”

Before becoming the manager, Poihipi had spent 17 years as a relief milker

“They do a tail score and look at lameness and a lot of other things around the herd’s health.

“Along with the reports, it’s also a good way to talk with other farmers about what they are doing, problemsolving and just having contact.

“And knowing I’m not alone

“I’m very thankful to Ben and the team at the Veterinary Health Centre and appreciate their help.” n

MORE: Talk

Who am I?

Samantha Tennent is the general manager of WelFarm