Ontario Hoof Trimmers Guild, 2007 Conference

The 2008 Conference
This year the conference held at the Ramada Inn and the University of Guelph, Guelph Ontario

This years speakers included:

Ted Withworth & Al Briggs , who spoke on Farm Safety and Understanding Contractors Certificates
Dr. Jim Nocek, who spoke on Animal Behaviour - Influences on Claw Health Via Nutrition
Dr. Ann Godkin, who spoke on Recording Foot Lesions - The Basics and Why
Dr. Rob Swackhammer, who spoke on Anatomy of the Bovine Foot
Plus two Trimmer Panels:
1.Processing Cattle the do's and don'ts
Albert DeVor, Jeff Butchers, Vic Daniel
2.Why We Record
Brian Nabuurs, Randy Lichti, Peter Kudelka
Our social banquet was held on the Friday night of June 13th. Longtime and Lifetime Achievement Awards were handed out. Kiyoshi Kamei had the honour to present the Ontario Hoof Trimmers Guild Lifetime Achievement Award to Hank Vanderpost for 40 years of service to our industry. Gatean Dallaire had the honour to present the 30 year Awards to Albert DeVor, Peter Kudelka, Ed Spencer, Peter Merrick and Jim Morris(Jim wasn't able to attend). Prior to these presentations fellow trimmers Phil Spence and Elbert Koster gave us an update on the Hoof Trimmers Association Conference to be held in Red Deer Alberta, July 17th-19th. After a fun Auction and some more social time the first day ended.
On Saturday we were off to the barns of The Ontario Veterinary College. Vic Daniel and Peter Kudelka rose above the call of duty to have prepared a huge variety of cadaver feet(94) for inspection and to practice on. Albert Devor made a great stand to help secure the feet while we were trimming. OVC staff from the post-mortem lab did the cross sectioning of selected bad feet.
Click here for examples of these feet
Randy Lichti had his chute set up outside and everyone had a change to demonstrate their technique on live OVC cows. Dr. Swackhammer was present all day to anwser questions and give advise. He was joined by his collegue Dr. Le Blanc. There was some great dialogue taking place between the Veterinarians present and the Hoof Trimmers. I am sure we all learned a lot from each other on these two very informative days.

Dr. Ann Godkin from OMAFRA speaking on recording Foot Lesions

Phil Spence and Elbert Koster gave us an update on the Hoof Trimmers Association Conference coming up in July

Guild member Kiyoshi Kamei presents the Life Time Achievment Award to fellow member Hank Vanderpost.

(fltr) Peter Merrick, Peter Kudelka, Hank Vanderpost,
Ed Spencer and Albert DeVor
Hank Vanderpost with 30 year Veterans

Drs. Rob Swackhammer and Leblanc learning about trimming in Alberta from Elbert Koster

Randy Lichti's recently delivered Appleton Chute

Randy Lichti and Rod Roth show how this chute works

Even some of the cows got to learn how to run the chute

Dr. Le Blanc , Ed Spencer and Doug Vaughan discuss their findings on some of the cross sectioned cadavar feet

Don Ruttan trying out a new type of trimming blade

Dr. Ann Godkin from OMAFRA speaking on recording Foot Lesions	Phil Spence and Elbert Koster gave us an update on the Hoof Trimmers Association Conference coming up in July
Guild member Kiyoshi Kamei presents the Life Time Achievment Award to fellow member Hank Vanderpost.	(fltr) Peter Merrick, Peter Kudelka, Hank Vanderpost, Ed Spencer and Albert DeVor Hank Vanderpost with 30 year Veterans
Drs. Rob Swackhammer and Leblanc learning about trimming in Alberta from Elbert Koster	Randy Lichti's recently delivered Appleton Chute
Randy Lichti and Rod Roth show how this chute works	Even some of the cows got to learn how to run the chute
Dr. Le Blanc , Ed Spencer and Doug Vaughan discuss their findings on some of the cross sectioned cadavar feet	Don Ruttan trying out a new type of trimming blade