A4O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 4, 2000
GAIL STROCK
Mifflin Co. Correspondent
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.)-Ask some people to list the
most important parts of a dairy
cow and very few would even
think of the hooves. But to the
375 people who attended the
Pennsylvania Foot Clinic at
Penn State’s Ag Arena on Friday,
February 4, good hoof health is
very important.
Dairy producers, veterinari
ans, nutritionists, researchers,
agribusiness representatives,
and other consultants came to
hear dairy industry specialists
speak of the various issues that
affect hoof health. Nearly 60
hoof trimmers, from as far away
as Ontario, Canada, came also to
watch hoof trimming demon
strations on dairy cows with var
ious foot problems.
Professional hoof trimmer
Paul Neer, Belleville, hosted and
coordinated the event along with
sponsors from Agway, Monsanto
Dairy Business, Roche Vitamins,
and Zinpro Corporation. Neer
sponsored a similar appreciation
clinic two years ago in Belleville.
Nearly 250 dairy producers, vet
erinarians, hoof trimmers, and
nutritionists attended that ev
ent.
“There are a lot of theories
about chutes, chipper tools, and
the best combinations,” Neer
said as he welcomed the crowd,
PA TOBACCO
Mmti MARKETING
dr** ASSOCIATION
Location Jalyn Drive,
Orland Industrial Park, New Holland
(next door to last year’s location)
SALES OF FEB. 17. FEB. 24 & MAR . 2
Tobacco Prices Were Steady For The
Last 3 Sales. The High Was 680.
NEXT SALS
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Look for next week’s ad for date of meeting
with tobacco specialist to talk about
improving our quality and rules &
regulations for taking tobacco to MD.
Must call to schedule delivery
(717) 355-5336
If no answer call (717) 626-6970
"fi
Hoof Cli
“but I say it [the quality of the
hoof trim] is only as good as the
guy behind it.” Neer, a firm
believer in hoof maintenance,
then introduced Penn State
Extension Agent Dan McFar
land who talked about the
importance of proper housing
and environment for cow com
fort.
“Make sure whoever lays
your concrete is your best
friend,” McFarland said as he
went on to compare bare ground
and solid concrete qualities, the
various concrete surfaces, and
the use of sand, grit, and rubber
in alleys. He said other factors
that influence hoof health
include frequency of manure
removal, design of rest areas,
ventilation, feeding ration, ac
cess to outside, and overcrowd
ing.
Executive Director of the
Hoof Trimmers Association,
Nichelle Martin, from Wiscon
sin, introduced Dr. Jan Shearer
from the University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine.
Shearer spoke about cow anato
my, physiology, biomechanics,
and the importance of hoof trim
ming.
“Ninety percent of lameness
is in the foot. Ninety percent of
that in the foot involves the rear
feet. Seventy to ninety percent
ic Held At Un
Hoof trimmer Dale Herr of Lancaster demonstrates maintenance trimming.
of that involves the outside
claw,” Shearer explained. He
went on to say that cow comfort
is critical to the whole issue of
hoof health.
The morning session ended
with hoof trimming demonstra
Park
versit
tions. Participants moved through
out the Ag Arena to watch ten
hoof trimmers demonstrate main
tenance and problem hoof trim
ming.
In the afternoon, Dr. William
Seymour, a nutritionist with
Roche V’'amins, spoke about
biotin and hoof health while Dr.
Chris Canale, a nutritionist with
Agway, spoke about laminitis
and nutrition.