Welcome to Munich
In September, Munich will be hosting the 19th International Symposium and 11th International Conference on Lameness in Ruminants.
The famous German city will play host to the biannual event for this time. Experts in cattle health, production systems, animal behavior, and hoof care will be there from 6th to 9th September. During this time, they will discuss industry issues, present new research, and promote knowledge exchange.
The Conference
As being a member of The Hoof Trimmers Association (HTA), I’ve kept a close watch on past research and attended various HTA conferences. This year’s lameness symposium and conference will be again an opportunity to pick up the latest in scientific research and best practices in the dairy industry.
It is my firm belief that we should base hoof health solutions on proven research with practical applications. Such research paves the way to optimum hoof health, which will benefit both dairy herds and their owners. I hope that Munich will provide a wealth of additional resources that we can share with Canadian dairymen and dairy service providers. These resources will help us in the pursuit of our ultimate goal: making the Canadian dairy industry even better!
Intracare
I’m also proud that our partner and supplier Intracare is among the supporters of this year’s event in Munich. Their first attendance was in 2011 when Rotorua in New Zealand hosted the conference. It was there that lameness expert Menno Holzhauer presented the findings one of Intracare’s studies. It compares a tetracycline-based antibiotic spray and Hoof-fit Gel as treatments for severe M2 lesions. This was a real breakthrough for Hoof-fit Gel, which achieved an astounding 92% cure rate against 58% for the spray. Intracare took part in the next two conferences as well. In 2015, Valdivia in Chile hosted the event. At this event, an additional poster presentation confirmed the high efficacy of Intra Hoof-fit Gel for registration in Canada.
Let’s hope that this year’s event will bring more encouraging study results and new insights. We need all the help we can get from science and cattle experts to fight lameness. When we ensure maximum comfort and good health for our animals, we will enjoy the rewards of increased productivity and strong returns on investment.
If you are interested in more details about the upcoming Congress, you can get plenty of information at the Lameness Symposium website.
