Handlers Essential for Dairy Cows

Posted by www.nacft.co.uk on 22 July 2010 | 8 Comments

Things are changing down on the farm.

Irrigators are now commonplace, silage individually wrapped, and feed pads, although once thought unnecessary, are appearing on all the best farms. Now it is the turn of lamecow handler.

“Lamecow handlers are standard farm equipment in America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Every farm either owns one or brings in a contractor with one. Yet until recently Kiwi farmers knew no different than leg roping” said Wilco Klein Ovink. Mr Klein Ovink was a New Zealand pioneer in this field. Eight years ago he saw the need for a safe and easy way to treat hooves. Finding nothing available he released The Wrangler, a lamecow handler of his own patented design. Cow Handlers are a crush which restrains the cow and her leg leaving the farmer safe to examine the hoof.

“Over the last few years I have noticed a marked change in the attitude of dairy farmers to lameness” he said. “Farmers are more aware of the cost of lameness in the herd and are doing something about it sooner. They are now more inclined to look at the hoof themselves before calling in the vet.

Hoof problems are on the rise. Farm sizes are increasing and more supplement are being used. Mr Klein Ovink said it is common for farms to have 20 cows in the lamecow mob. This becomes expensive with the cow producing less, money and time required for treatment, and milk lost during withholding periods. There is also the cost of injury to staff or cow caused by poor safety practices - the danger to staff should a blow from a cows leg connect with them and also the danger to the cow breaking her hip by going down while leg roped. Often it must be a quick examination with the help of a second person.

Good facilities can reduced these problems. “If you have good facilities you are more likely to check a troublesome hoof before it gets serious,” explained Wilco. “OSH has also changed the way we do things. Many farmers identify the hazards associated with leg roping and find this equipment essential in preventing injuries to staff. Also with the crush restraining the animal the second person is free to get on with other farm tasks.”

The sheep industry has seen a similar trend with their sheep handlers. What was once thought a fad is now mainstream with sheep farmers eager to make many of the routine stock tasks easier.

Cow handlers too have many uses. They are purpose built for dairy cows rather than beef cattle so are lighter and provide more access to the cow for examinations like caesarian operations. Another set of facilities at calving time is useful and being mobile the farmer can choose to calve his cows where ever best suits - at the back of the farm, next to the house, or in the wintering shed. Other farms are installing fixed models at the end of the shed exit race to draft lamecows out for treatment. “One thing everyone agrees on” laughed Wilco, “is once you are accustomed to using one you will never go back to leg roping!”

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