management ASK THE HOOF TRIMMER
and what it does for the animal. I would like to share this conversation with you, from a hoof trimmer’s perspective. I have to admit that it is a subject with differing opinions, environments, climates, and you name it, and that I certainly do not have all the answers to the ooring options that are available.
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I would like to start with a statement: ‘If you have a lot of lameness in your herd and that is the reason you want rubber in your alleys, then you are one station too far.’ It is so important to understand the underlying reason for the lameness before deciding on any ooring option. This reasoning is closely related to the ROI (return on investment) on whatever nishing or covering you decide on. I’ve experienced it with one of our clients and would like to pass this experience on to you. This client spent a lot of money on rubber ooring to take care of his lameness issues, which affected about 65% of the herd. After 6 months, the lameness was still at the same level and he shared his unsatis ed feelings with me. What had happened was this: he had not trimmed the herd regularly to keep tabs on their hoof health, but instead had invested these perceived ‘savings’ in rubber ooring. He had overestimated the performance and was over-sold on the rubber.
This does not mean that rubber is a no-no. I’m not judgemental on rubber—I have to admit, I simply love it. However, the cause of lameness should’ve been dealt with in the rst place and only then should a decision have been made about whether rubber would serve a useful purpose. Rubber or other soft oorings are most de nitely preferred by the cow: as a matter of fact, they will walk into a train if a strip 3 feet wide is installed. Research and
Provided by CMSS
Service Award this year. Walter is a true gentleman who has been breeding Milking Shorthorns for over 50 years and has a love for his hard-working Shorthorn cows.
T
Walter and wife Isobel purchased their farm in the hills of Grey County in 1951 and have been farming there ever since. They started dairying with just some grade cattle, but, after a brief experiment with Holsteins, Walter purchased his rst pedigreed Shorthorns from a breeder near Ayton in the late 1950s. The Merrittview herd ourished and has been a source of purebred Shorthorns for many years. His herd has been noted for many years as producing cows with great longevity, fertility and quiet temperament while having above average component production.
When asked what cow he is most proud of, Walter rightly refers to “the Pepper
he CMSS Board of Directors is proud to present Walter Goudy of Markdale, Ontario, with a Distinguished
recently received a question by telephone about rubber ooring
experience has shown that lameness prevention is optimized when soft ooring is used. The point is clear: some homework has to be done regarding the reasons before deciding on any ooring options.
I would like to share some practical pointers as guidance: 1 Before you do anything to prevent or tackle lameness, make a plan:
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one that has all strategies, options, and costs spelled out. Make your ooring decisions part of that plan. Floors are only one piece in the puzzle and certainly not the most important piece. Nevertheless, neglecting this piece, or making a wrong choice, will perhaps result in a crash.
2. Seek professional help in your local area, from someone who is familiar
with your situation, and try to understand the lameness picture and cow comfort.
3. Understand the practical approach: do you wash down your alleys or is
scraping the procedure for cleaning? If you scrape, you need to have the rubber ooring installed ush with the oor.
4. Shop around for different rubber or soft ooring options and know their .
differences, availability, and warranties. 5 If you use rubber in the area where the free-stalls are, you might see
some potential ‘alley-layers’, particularly when the comfort of the stall is not suf ciently to the cow’s liking. Rubber is warmer than concrete and some cows simply ‘don’t get it’.
6. Recycled rubber belting should be grooved to avoid slipping: rubber can .
also get pretty slippery. 7 Rubber requires maintenance, but so does concrete: the latter also has
to be taken care of, before it becomes a skating rink. 8 I advise soft ooring for cows that have to walk long distances or that
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are on sloped alleyways or in holding pens: it eliminates over-wearing and impact on the claws.
9. Cows still need to be trimmed regularly: it doesn’t matter if they are housed on rubber or on concrete oors.
This was a great chat that my client and I had over the telephone regarding rubber ooring and its purpose. We shared some experiences and learned a lot from each other. I would like to conclude with a quote: ‘What works for someone else might not necessarily be your best solution’. Be open-minded, think outside of the box, and I wish you success.
For any lameness questions, feel free to email me at
questions@allabouthooves.com CANADIAN MILKING SHORTHORN AWARD
cow,” Merrittview Pepper K 5A EX-90-2E. This outstanding cows holds the lifetime records for fat and protein production for Canadian Milking Shorthorns. Pepper K still sits at #10 LPI, was a two time Class Leader and was a One Star Brood Cow. The majority of the Merrittview herd has at least one cross to Pepper in their pedigree and she is also the third dam of Semex sire Oceanbrae Logic’s Plato. When referring to his current herd, Walter is quite proud of Hutton Hills Misty EX-90, a Meriville Prince Edward daughter that he bred but who was born at the farm of another breeder.
Walter served two terms as a Director of the CMSS in the late 1980s and early 1990s and has previously hosted the CMSS Field Day with his family. He has a solid reputation for always consigning from the top of his herd to breed sales and has made quality animals available to many new breeders in recent years. As Walter is easing into a gradual retirement, he will continue making animals available while retaining some of his favorite cows.
Walter has farmed together with his son Bruce for many years. Walter and Isobel have three other sons: Terry (who works in ministry), Wayne (a dairy farmer near Markdale) and Dale (a crop farmer in Saskatchewan).
The Board wishes to thank Walter for his steadfast commitment to the breed for many years. In recognizing Walter with this award, he also becomes an Honourary Life Member of the CMSS.
For more information on the Milking Shorthorn breed in Canada, please visit
www.cmss.on.ca.
2011 Advertising Deadlines Fall Issue
August 25, 2011 (Camera ready Sept 6)
Special Royal Issue Oct 10, 2011
(Camera ready Oct 13)
Winter Issue Nov 21, 2011
(Camera ready Nov 24) COWSMOPOLITAN SUMMER 2011 47
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