As findings from the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) latest Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey show that lameness is the number one welfare concern for almost 70% of production animal vets, BVA has launched a practical course that will support mixed and farm veterinary practitioners who treat lame dairy cows in tackling this complex and costly problem.

The CPD course will be led by Dr Nick Bell, Lecturer in Veterinary Livestock Extension at the Royal Veterinary College, and will introduce technical details supporting the stages of the Healthy Feet Programme.

John Blackwell, BVA Senior Vice President and cattle vet, said, “As a cattle vet, lameness is a problem I encounter on farms all too often and every vet working with production animals needs to be armed with the skills and knowledge to tackle this problem – and this course, led by expert Nick Bell, is an excellent opportunity to hone those techniques.” The one-day course will start with a discussion about trimming methods, faults and the latest evidence for effective treatment protocols. Practical demonstration will take place using a "wet lab" to allow for discussion around a range of different foot lesions followed by a demonstration of various treatment options. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and practice on these specimens, using various hoof knives, foot trimmers and electrical equipment.

The course will conclude by reviewing approaches to forming a herd-level diagnosis and treatment plan using records and more in-depth investigations. A commercial farm with a range of features and facilities will be risk assessed in relation to foot care. The session will finish with a costing exercise, with proven strategies for motivating clients in relation to herd foot health.

Delegates will learn from five key skills from the course:

    •    How to improve lameness diagnostics
    •    How to identify correct and harmful trimming methods
    •    How to improve cure rates
    •    The most effective lesion control strategies
    •    How to motivate your client

The course takes place on 6 September 2016 at Colliton Barton Training Centre, Honiton and costs £280 for BVA members and £430 for non-members. Places are limited and can be booked here.