Submitted By: Cassie Yost, Penn State Extension Dairy Educator
Laminitis in the dairy herd can have a rippling effect on many areas of the farm. This costly disease can have severe impacts on milk production and reproduction within the herd. There are various studies published that try to place an economic impact on laminitis. These losses range anywhere from $76 to $533 per case of laminitis depending on expenditures and losses to the farm. For a more detailed look into these factors, visit www.extension.psu.edu/lameness-its-costing-you for a full article on the effects of laminitis on dairy farms. Since treatment of this disease is quite costly, prevention should be the focus for each dairy farm to pay close attention to.
In the spring of 2023, there was an in-person hoof health workshop held in Franklin County. Participants of the workshop learned about the importance of nutrition and facility design and their impacts on overall hoof health. Another session of the workshop allowed participants to sharpen their hoof trimming skills through hands-on practice and also learned how to correct common issues found in the hooves of dairy cows. The overall success and feedback of the workshop has led Penn State Extension to offer this same workshop, with this location being offered in Juniata County.
This interactive, hands-on workshop is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 1 at Henry-Acres Holsteins located at 8595 Groninger Valley Road, Port Royal, PA. Registration will start at 9:45 AM. Dr. Robert Vansaun, Dr. Ernest Hovingh, and Ag Engineer John Tyson will lead the presentations and demonstrations at the workshop. The registration deadline is Friday, September 27. There is a registration fee of $15 to attend the workshop. Lunch will be provided. Walk-in registrations are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged for an accurate lunch count.
To register for this event, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/hoof-health-workshop-for-dairy. For more information or assistance with registration, please contact either Cassie Yost at 814-643-1660 or via email at clm275@psu.edu or Daniela Roland at 717-263-9226 or via email at djr6158@psu.edu.
If you missed this workshop the first time around, please join us at Henry-Acres Holsteins to take advantage of this additional opportunity. There are many factors that can affect the overall health and performance of your dairy cows, don’t let laminitis be the reason your farm is not meeting their production goals.
