Monitoring Claw Health and Certification of Claw Trimmers in Norway

Traditionally there has been no central registry for detailed information on claw health recorded by claw trimmers in Norway. Claw diseases used to be registered by the veterinarian as either “laminitis” or “other claw disease” and reported to the Norwegian Dairy Recording System. There is no demand for any formal education for claw trimmers and others who would like to trim claws. In 2001 the Norwegian Claw Trimmers Association was established.
In 2004, the Claw health card was introduced to enable better surveillance of claw diseases in Norwegian cattle. Cows with normal claws are also recorded. The registrations are useful on herd level and hopefully also on national level in the future.
Courses related to claw trimming and claw diseases are held at different levels; Two days long local or regional courses (beginners’ courses) are held by a Norwegian Cattle Health veterinarian and a local claw trimmer. The 2-3 days long national courses (certification courses) are for experienced claw trimmers and a voluntary exam after the course give the claw trimmers the opportunity to obtain a certificate if they pass ...