Code of Working Practice between National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers (NACFT) and British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA)

It is vital for improved management of digital lameness in dairy cattle that there is good cooperation between foot trimmers and veterinarians. The national UK trimmers organisation has recently approved an agreement with the UK cattle veterinarians group. In addition to the established “Dutch diploma”, an independent assessment scheme run by the National Proficiency Training Council has now been set up as the UK standard. The Code establishes the need to record certain digital conditions, appropriately to involve the farm veterinarian, and to improve communication between dairy farmers, trimmers and vets. The Code also covers corrective foot-trimming technique, applying topical treatment to infections, and defines the limits of the trimmer’s activity. This Code of Conduct fits well into the UK government strategy of the “promotion of animal health and welfare: prevention is better than cure” ...