Course Description
Advance your expertise in hoof trimming care and herd management with this intensive three-day Hoof Health training course, led by one of Canada’s top trimming experts. Addressing one of the leading challenges in dairy production, this course combines classroom instruction with hands-on trimming experience to help participants learn to prevent and manage lameness effectively.
This course is designed for both beginners and experienced professionals looking to sharpen their skills, improve animal welfare, and reduce lameness in herds. Designed for farmers, veterinarians, farm workers, and post-secondary students, the course aims to strengthen animal welfare practices, improve herd productivity, and build regional capacity in hoof health management.
Hoof Health aims to build a deeper understanding of hoof anatomy, hoof lesions, principles of hoof trimming, and lameness detection. Equipping you with these skills will promote proactive and timely interventions on farm, support animal welfare standards, and farm efficiency. Better herd welfare will lead to a more sustainable and economically viable dairy industry.
What You Will Learn
- Gain practical, hands-on experience in trimming hooves using safe and effective techniques.
- Learn to identify and assess common hoof health issues and make informed decisions for appropriate interventions with confidence.
- Discover how to implement preventive measures for better hoof health management.
- Apply appropriate herd management practices to mitigate the economic impact of lameness.
Notes
The course’s modular and hands-on format will provide training that is applicable to real-world scenarios found in farm production and animal welfare. It will focus on different aspects of hoof health and its impact on cattle welfare and farm economics.
Emphasis will be on hands-on learning with participants trimming hooves on live cattle. Safety protocols and tools will be covered. A wet lab component will ensure that participants can practice skills learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.
To receive a Certificate of Completion, participants will need to achieve a minimum of 70% on the assessment. The minimum standard of 70% is based on completion of written and observational assessments.
Funding Opportunities:
Funding opportunities may be available via Canada Job Grants for each province.
Nova Scotia - Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI)
Recommended For
• Farmers
• Farm workers
• Veterinarians
• Bovine health care professionals
• Current post-secondary agriculture students
• Agricultural professionals
• Professional agrologists