Veterinary hoof trimming + lameness in North Canterbury So we do the talking for her. Every cow scored 0 to 5, trimmed and treated by what we find, and priced before the grinder starts. Vet-grade hoof care for Canterbury dairy herds. Hoof care delivered as part of Vetlife’s veterinary service, with pain management and further treatment directed by a veterinarian according to each cow’s needs. The cost of doing nothing Lameness can start with subtle changes, but the pain and impact on performance are real. Affected cows may eat less, produce less milk and take longer to get back in calf. Early identification, appropriate treatment and practical prevention help protect cow welfare and herd performance. Production A sore cow eats less and walks slower to the shed. Milk drops before you ever see a limp. Fertility Lameness can affect reproductive performance, increasing the time it takes a cow to get back in calf. Longevity Feet are a top reason good cows leave the herd before their time, taking their genetics with them. The fix A score-2 caught on time is a quick trim. Left alone it becomes a score-4 and a much bigger bill. The system One clinical scale, zero surprises. We score every cow on assessment day, treat to what the score tells us on the return visit, and you know the price before any sole comes off. This is how vet-grade hoof care should work. Indicative pricing, all ex GST, confirmed on farm. Block and material costs vary with the lesion and are quoted before fitting. What we do Hoof assessment, trimming and blocks where appropriate, with veterinary direction for the treatment of hoof lesions and management of pain. We score your herd as they walk, find the mob that is hurting, and book the trimming before small problems get expensive. Corrective and therapeutic trimming on the new KVK crush, every cow scored 0 to 5, priced to what she actually needs. Bovi-bond blocks to take weight off a sore claw and let her heal, fitted on the spot, materials quoted up front. When a foot needs more than a trim, veterinary assessment and treatment are arranged where required. Every cow logged with her score and treatment, so you can target your worst feet and watch the lame count fall. Book a locomotion score and we will hold a trimming slot for any score 2 or 3 within the week, before she gets worse. Veterinary oversight Hooflife is part of Vetlife’s veterinary service, so treatment does not stop at the trim. On treatment day, pain management and further treatment are directed by a Vetlife veterinarian according to each cow’s needs. Any prescription medicines are authorised by a veterinarian and used according to their instructions, and where a cow needs more, veterinary assessment is arranged. How a visit runs Step 1 Book online, or call or text us. We confirm a day that fits your shed and your season. Step 2 Cows scored as they come, so you know the mob and the cost before we start. Step 3 Corrective trimming, lesion work and blocks, done safely on the crush. Step 4 Where a cow needs more than a trim, a Vetlife veterinarian determines the next steps. Step 5 You get the records and a plan for the cows to watch next time. Where we work Based around the Dunsandel, Darfield and Burnham run, working out from Vetlife Oxford across North Canterbury. If you are nearby and milking, we can most likely get to you. Availability Hooflife runs afternoons through the AI season and full days as lameness peaks from mid November. The diary fills fast once the cows come in, so the herds that book ahead get the slots. Peter // Hooflife technician The hands on the grinder Peter Gallacher is a Vetlife veterinary technician working North Canterbury. He has built Hooflife on a purpose-built KVK trimming crush, brought in through Hoof Solutions, because he was tired of watching good cows go lame and stay that way. The crush is a big part of why the cows handle it better. It gives him easier, faster access to the foot than traditional methods, so there is less wrestling, less time held, and less stress on her. The difference is the line behind him. Peter is not a contractor passing through. He works within Vetlife’s hoof-care service under veterinary clinical oversight. Where a cow needs further investigation or treatment, a Vetlife veterinarian determines the appropriate next steps, including an examination where required. Peter Gallacher // Veterinary Technician, North Canterbury Get on the list Pick a day that suits and we will confirm it. Tell us your herd size and where you are, and we will sort a visit that works around your shed. Or get hold of us directly Before you book Four things to have handy, whichever way you get in touch. Treatment day follows the assessment by 48 to 72 hours, so allow for two visits when you are planning around the shed.
HooflifeShe can't tell you
her feet hurt.Lameness is the quiet one.
Less in the vat
Empty cows
Early culls
Catch it early
The Hooflife Score
Score the mob. Fix the feet. Keep the records.
Locomotion scoring
Hoof trimming
Blocking + treatment
Vet escalation
Herd records
Score-and-book
Treatment directed by a vet.
Assess first. Treat second.
Book
Score
Trim + treat
Escalate
Record + plan
Mid and North Canterbury
Book early for the season
Meet Peter.
Sound feet start with a phone call.
