Kinder Hoof Consultation

Three farmers in coveralls and hats talk together ini a barn between two aisles of black and white cows.

Across North America

Kinder Hoof Consultation

Kinder Consultations are opportunities to bring in species or topic specific experts to evaluate farm performance on a specific area. Kinder Ground partners with Dr. Gerard Cramer to take a deep dive into the hoof health of farms wanting to improve hoof health.

The Goal:

Improve hoof health and caregiver competence

Kinder Hoof Consultations Delivered: 2

Funding provided: $6,800

Our project using AI to monitor hoof health served as a welcome reminder that everything happens through people. Technology can help, but only if we have capable, competent, and compassionate support at every level.

Kinder Hoof Consultations are a job for an expert in hoof health and hoof trimming. Dr. Gerard Cramer has become a partner in compassion providing his services at a discounted rate.

The Outcomes:

Better Together

Kinder Ground’s network of like-minded and passionate champions is our superpower. Who else would turn a 3-day consultation into an official training program?

Caregiver competence elevated

Cow caregivers will learn tips and tricks to make their job easier and more impactful.

Every hoof should be checked using a hoof tester. When caught early, it may not be obvious which hoof is sore. The hoof tester is a reliable way to identify the hoof in need of more attention.
Every sore hoof deserves relief. Even if the lesion is not obvious, or the opposite foot already has a block, a block will be applied to the healthy hoof to relieve pain from the sore hoof and allow it to heal

An ounce of prevention…

Consultations can identify issues contributing to lameness in the herd.

Practices adopted following consultations have included:

Recording all cows with corkscrew claws and flagging them for a specific trimming schedule
Setting custom trim schedules and automatic rechecks for cows with abscesses or ulcers to ensure they are healing properly
Youngstock are enrolled in hoof-wart prevention earlier and more often.
Identifying areas where the addition or replacement of rubber flooring was needed

Competition and corkscrews

Lessons learned and next steps

What Our Partner In Compassion Is Saying

“In most dairies, the first step to improving hoof health is to improve the lameness knowledge and understanding of the people working with the cows.”

- Dr. Gerard Cramer

Two farmers in safety glasses and aprons bend over a red and black tool mounted to a work table.

Who says trimming feet can’t be fun? We learned that taking care of your tools is a must so you can do your best for the cows, and to use hoof testers to catch early signs of lameness.

Co-founder of Kinder Ground Dr. Jen wearing safety glasses and taking a selfie with four other smiling farmers in front of red machinery.

A farmer in an apron uses a silver tool to clamp a cow's hoof that is being held in place by a red metal apparatus.

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