Page 3 - Lameness newsletter 2020 15

Interchem Lameness Summer Newsletter 2020
Teagasc highlights issues with lameness in cows

At the Moorepark 2019 open day
details of sub- optimal mobility
in pasture-based dairy cows was
presented showing a number of
significant findings.

A study of 62 Irish dairy farms
showed that upon mobility
scoring 37% of all the cows has
some form of sub-optimal mo-
bility. When comparing 305-day
milk yields of Irish pasture based
cows with sub optimal mobility, Table 1. Estimates and the standard error (SE) of the effect on 305-day
compared to cows with optimal , milk, fat, and protein yield for each level of sub-optimal mobility
mobility, milk yield losses of up (mobility score 1,2,3) compared to cows with optimal mobility (mobil-
to 320 kg per cow per lactation ity score 0)
were found (Table 1).
Mobility score 1 Mobility score 2 Mobility score 3
It was concluded that sub opti- Yield (kg) Estimate SE Estimate SE Estimate SE
mal mobility is an issue in pas-
ture based farms associated with Milk 20.00 17.26 -155.27 42.23 -320.74 94.64
economic losses and welfare Fat 0.35 0.81 -7.22 1.99 -6.8 4.46
concerns. Protein 0.74 0.60 -4.85 1.46 -10.2 3.27

cilities. Once in place the draw bar and over the phone, some deliver their ma-
WOPA continuing to axle move out of the cows way with chines for service and repair to his work-

support Irish cow simple hydraulic levers. When the cow shop, other look to have the machines
couriered to Carlow and of course Frank
is safely in the WOPA the operator can,
comfort again hydraulically, lift the machine up can travel to the customer if needed.
300mm off the ground so he or she can
PharVet stocks a range of parts in Cook-
trim the rear hooves without the need stown, Dublin all at next day delivery.
The WOPA Hoof Trimming crushes con- to stoop down repeatedly. With the use
tinue to grow their numbers in the Irish of sensor technolgy the WOPA 61 allows PharVet focuses on the professional
market place with the launch of their users to unload the current animal and hoof trimming crushes but more re-
most recent innovative machine, the load next in under 40 seconds thus en- cently have began to look at WOPA’s
WOPA 61. The Dutch based manufac- suring maximum throughput while on extended including static farm yard
turer has been building robust hoof farm. Finally, with a growing emphasis hoof trimming crushes, sheep roll over
trimming crushes for 60 years now and on biosecurity, WOPA have designed crates, and indeed a unique specialised
recently expanded it’s manufacturing this machine to allow the user lift the bull handling crate option.
capacity to cope with increasing de- hinged internal floor after each farm Feel free to call Aidan, the PharVet
mand. Thankfully, WOPA’s proud Irish visit. Washing and disinfecting the ma- WOPA sales representative on 087 253
distributor, PharVet can lay claim to chine top to bottom including the un- 6187
supporting the increased demand. derneath panels will minimise the risk
of carrying an infection from farm to
WOPA’s main focus has always been farm.
on animal welfare. The crushes allows
for therapeutic or routine hoof care in PharVet, a subsidiary of Interchem, has
a safe, cow friendly environment. And been distributing WOPA machines for
while the WOPA 39’s, 49’s 51’s etc are many years now and most recently in-
synonymous for reliability and perfor- creased it’s own capacity to support the
mance in the Irish market place, the Irish Hoof Trimmers by appointing a
WOPA 61 took the cow comfort design WOPA trained Service Technician in the
and bolted on increased safety and sup- midlands.
port for the Hoof Trimmer.
Frank O Hara of O Hara’s Engineering
The 61, once unhooked from the car based in Fenagh, Co. Carlow came on
can be driven by remote control to board in 2019 and has been a valu-
where the Hoof Trimmer wants to set able addition to the team. Frank looks
up in front of the farmers handling fa- after the Hoof Trimmers in a mulitude
of ways. Many avail of troubleshooting