Joe Kirby grew up on a family dairy farm and started hoof trimming at just 18. He now runs Kirby Cattle Services, a successful and growing business based in Cheshire, covering Shropshire, Wales, and beyond. With many years of experience—including multiple trips to America to attend advanced training courses—Joe has built a reputation for excellence in hoof care and cattle handling.
In addition to trimming, Joe operates one of the first dedicated concrete grooving and resurfacing services for farms across the UK and Europe. His hands-on expertise helps farmers improve cattle welfare, safety, and performance through enhanced flooring and hoof care.
Joe holds a Level 4 qualification in cattle hoof care and is an instructor for the CHCSB Level 4 Professional Hoof Trimming Course. He is committed to helping the next generation of trimmers develop their skills and raise standards across the industry.

Huw Dyer AWCF is a Farrier of over 50 years. Huw takes great pride in his work and knows that keeping your tools in the best condition ensures great end results. As a busy farrier, he developed the Complete Tool Maintenance Kit, which offers a fast and efficient way to maintain his Hoof Knives, Nippers and more. Huw is looking forward to showcasing his product with Cattle Trimmers so they too can have sharp knives with no hassle. The Complete Tool Maintenance Kit has been so popular with Farriers it is recognised and sold worldwide.

Evgenij Telezhenko is a researcher at the Unit of Animal Environment and Building Function, Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Evgenij received his PhD in Animal Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Swedish in 2007 and provided an important contribution to the field by investigating effects of different flooring systems on gait, behaviour, foot health and biomechanics in dairy cattle. He then held a position as a postdoctoral researcher at the Animal Welfare Program (University of British Columbia, Canada). Next, he worked in the dairy industry and then returned to academia in 2017 with new ideas and experience. He is currently working on research projects that explore various aspects of hoof health in dairy cattle focusing on various flooring systems and different hoof trimming techniques.

Professional hoof trimmer based in the UK, dedicated to elevating standards in hoof care. My interest in bovine hoof health began while working on my parents' farm. After participating in several herdsman courses, I decided to pursue the Dutch diploma program, which marked the beginning of my decade-long journey in hoof trimming. Eager to expand my knowledge further, I later completed the Level 4 course through the CHCSB.

NT3D-GROUP SrlU
NT3D-GROUP SrlU (trademark Cowboy.care) is a producer of glue, special mixer, trimming discs and other accessories for professional Hoof trimmer. Our products are tested from several years on the field with the top quality in the market. Large range of glues, knives, trimming discs, tapes tested worldwide!

Frida Åkerström, DVM, PhD Candidate
Veterinary Specialist in Claw Health | R&D Manager, Växa Sweden
Frida Åkerström is a Swedish veterinarian with extensive experience in ruminant health, particularly claw health in dairy cattle. She earned her veterinary degree from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala in 2008 and is currently pursuing a PhD at SLU Alnarp, focusing on developing modern, technology-adapted standards for cattle claw care.
Frida has worked across Sweden as a practicing veterinarian with cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, and since 2017, she has served as Research and Development Manager in Animal Health at Växa Sweden, with a special focus on claw health. Her expertise bridges clinical practice, scientific research, and applied innovation in hoof care.
She is the author and co-author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and conference papers on claw health, lameness prevention, and hoof trimming practices, and is a regular contributor to both scientific and agricultural publications. Her work has been featured at leading international conferences on lameness in ruminants.

Bovine Hoof Claudes (BHA) to amerykańska firma, która ma zamiar zrewolucjonizować branżę pielęgnacji racic bydlęcych poprzez tworzenie i dystrybucję najskuteczniejszych klejów w konkurencyjnych cenach.

Wszystkie kleje to najwyższej jakości kleje uretanowe produkowane w USA. Oprócz klejów, które sami produkujemy, oferujemy podstawowy asortyment najczęściej używanych narzędzi i akcesoriów, wyselekcjonowanych od najlepszych producentów z całego świata. Naszym priorytetem jest zaoferowanie Ci wszystkiego, czego potrzebujesz do opieki nad zwierzętami.

DSP-Agrosoft GmbH is one of the largest providers of software solutions in the agricultural sector in Germany.
KLAUE is a software solution for hoof care professionals to increase efficiency in capturing and evaluating hoof health. KLAUE has more than 15 years of knowledge and experience in the documentation, evaluation and analysis of hoof diseases. More than 450 professional hoof trimmers and farmers use KLAUE as a stationary or mobile recording tool. We have placed great focus on cooperation with farmers and ease of use for the user.

Dr. med. vet. Christoph K. W. Mülling, Professor of Veterinary Anatomy, Specialist in Veterinary Anatomy
Dr. Christoph Mülling is a veterinarian and clinical anatomist with a passion for hands-on teaching and research in functional anatomy. After five years in veterinary practice, he has dedicated his professional career to university teaching and research. He has collaborated nationally and internationally with scientists, veterinarians, students, farriers, hoof trimmers, and numerous other professionals. Dr. Mülling has been University Professor of Veterinary Anatomy at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, since 2010. He was associate dean in 2013-16 and dean of studies in 2016-19. 2007-2010 he was Professor of Clinical Anatomy and Dean of Studies at the University of Calgary/Canada. In 2006, he was Associate Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham.
Prof. Mülling specializes in functional and clinical anatomy and integrated biomechanical research in cattle and horses with a focus on the locomotor apparatus, claw and hoof.
His team takes an interdisciplinary approach to research, combining clinical applied questions with basic science. Main areas of research are: Integrated biomechanical research in livestock and horses, pathogenesis of hoof diseases, in vitro research on skin and hoof, research in Veterinary Education. He is a four-time recipient of the VMF's Ackerknecht Award for Excellence in Teaching, and he received the Share Jones Lectureship in Veterinary Anatomy of the Royal Veterinary College/London in 2013.

Graeme Parker is a full time, professional cattle hoof trimmer, living and working in South West Scotland.

The Hoof GP is a YouTube Channel where Graeme chronicles his life working with cattle and living on the beautiful coast of Scotland.

Graeme's videos have reached over 750 million views across the globe and in a recent Australian Newspaper article he was described as "The biggest agricultural influencer on Planet Earth".

Graeme is changing the world of cattle hoof care, by bringing it to the forefront of peoples attention - launching an Online Hoof Trimming Course is one of the many ways he's achieved that - within the first few months of it's launch, 100's upon 100's of people had signed up to the course - proving peoples thirst for more knowledge on the subject.

Graeme is happily married to his wife Ashley and has 3 beautiful children, Maddie, Keir and Campbell, whom he adores.

dr Fanny Rachidi

2007 - 2013 Study of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Germany
2013 - 2016 Doctoral student, Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Germany
2016 Doctorate (Dr. med. vet.); title: "Randomized, placebo-controlled study to investigate the effects of homeopathic mastitis therapy in dairy cows"; Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Germany
since 2016 Assistant and PostDoc - Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
since 2017 Member of the Saxon examination board for "Fachagrarwirt Klauenpflege" and "Geprüfter Klauenpfleger"
May 2023 successfully passed the examination for postgraduate specialization in bovine medicine

Dr. Melanie Schären-Bannert (Ph.D. Dr. sc. agr. MVM)

2005 - 2011 Bachelor and Master Veterinary Medicine, Focus Ruminants, University of Gent
2011 - 2013 Practice: vet in herd management on dairy farms
2013 - 2017 Doctoral student - Institute of Animal Nutrition, FLI Braunschweig
2016 Doctorate (Ph.D.) - University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo)
„Effects of a ration change from a silage- and concentrate- to a pasture-based ration on the production, health and rumen physiology of dairy cows.”
2017 Doctorate (Dr. sc. agr.) - Faculty of agricultural sciences, University of Göttingen
„Interrelations between feed, host and the rumen microbiome of dairy cows.“
2018 - 2023 Teamleader module „animal health and feeding” - EIP-project “The development of the COW-more-VALUE” - LVAT – Institute for Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Groß Kreutz
since 2017 Assistant and PostDoc - Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, University of Leipzig

Proprietor of Vic’s Custom Clips Inc. Quality Hoof Care-Established in 1984 Located in Arva, Ontario Canada. Hoof Care Education Program Est. 2015.
Keenly interested in the study of cattle and the dairy industry practices due to his fifty-year collection of cattle breeds and animal husbandry books. Vic was raised on a dairy farm of registered Holsteins and Jerseys, he served as a herdsman/ served on the Board of the Perth County Holstein Breeders Association/ a rural advisor to the City of Toronto Food Policy Council for six years (a sub-committee of the City of Toronto Board of Health) and served six years as a Hoof Trimmers Association Board member and is a Past President.
Researched inter digital cleft spacing comparisons in Holsteins and Water Buffalo and infectious disease risks published in the Proceedings of the 2011 International Lameness in Ruminants Conference, Rotarura, New Zealand (Dr N. Capion co-author) and referenced in the Journal of Dairy Science (JDS) in 2015.
Project manager for the Ontario Dairy Hoof Health Project involving 12 Hoof trimmers from a joint training program recording hoof health and bio-security on their client farms 300 dairy herds and 20,000 head of cattle (2012).
Was a catalyst for the advancement of computerized hoof health records by hoof trimmers to be incorporated in dairy cattle sire proofs published for the first time in 2018.
Co-authored a published paper on genomic evaluation of hoof health JDS 2020.
Co-authored the White Line Atlas Method of Hoof Trimming (Randal White Co-author) 1st edition in 2014, 2nd edition in 2017 and was approved by the Hoot Trimmers Assoc. as one of three trimming methods for the HTA Toolbox.
Exposed the variation in inter digital cleft structures in Holstein cattle, Kappa ranking study poster presentation 2022 Lameness in Ruminants Conference, Minneapolis USA (N, Capion co-author).
Now validated for further evaluation due to the comparison study between WLAM and Danish method published in Sept. 2022 Veterinary Journal “Drinks Scotch and knows things”.
Contact information: vdaniel1@sympatico.ca

Nynne Capion graduated as a veterinarian in 2001, haven written her Master thesis on Digital dermatitis. Since 2001, Nynne has been researching hoof diseases and lameness in cattle.
Nynne is employed at the University of Copenhagen, where she teaches veterinary students in examination, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of diseases in cattle.
Since 2002, Nynne has taught Danish hoof trimmers at the hoof trimmer education.
In 2009, Nynne helped to establish the electronic registration of hoof diseases in the Nordic countries in collaboration with Norway, Sweden and Finland, which is now known as Nordic KlovApp. Data from hoof registration is used to improve hoof health both in the herds and through breeding.

Mamoru was born in the Fukushima Aizu district on a rice farm, where he also attended agricultural school.
After graduating from agricultural school, he moved to Hokkaido, after which he was employed at Masayuki Katayama's hoof trimming company in Hokkaido at the age of 22.
Mamoru has won the championship at the international competition twice, which is very special as there are only three hoof trimmers who have achieved this in the entire history of the competition.
He has also been awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.

Masayuki was born in 1966 in Hokkaido, Japan - and he started as a hoof trimmer when he was 18 years old.
He became self-employed at the age of 33, and still runs his hoof trimming business in Hokkaido, a company with 18 employees and 7 trucks.Masayuki won the championship at the international competition in 2002, where he was also awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.

I grew up spending a lot of time on farms, since my grandparents and most other family were farmers. Later I took a degree in biology and started working as a science journalist, which I have done for many years covering many areas from astronomy to brain research. But I still feel at home when I visit farms - and hold the greatest respect for agriculture. So I really look forward to meeting you all and moderate the conference.

The company Demotec was founded in 1986. Mr. Siegfried Demel is the founder. Meanwhile he has given the company to his son, Alexander Demel. Unchanged is our primary target: consumer satisfaction. All company's activities are subordinated to this goal. Our corporate logo with the "intelligent problem solving" reveals the content of our philosophy.
During the past years the main activities were concentrated on two corporate sectors. In our main sector, the veterinary medicine, Demotec has achieved a leading position in systems for bovine hoof treatment - worldwide.

Franziska Biebl studied veterinary medicine in Munich from 2014 to 2020. After her final exam she moved to Leipzig and started to work on her dissertational project at the Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology of Leipzig University in 2021. Since April 2022 she is holder of a scholarship from the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit. From August 2022 until June 2023 she had a contract as a research assistant at the Institute and was supporting the anatomical courses for the veterinary students.

James Wilson graduated from Nottingham University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and livestock science. Following a year of herd management, James returned to Nottingham University to complete a PhD – investigating optimal treatment and prevention strategies for claw horn lesions in dairy cattle. The PhD project was completed in 2021 and James now works in Cornwall and across the United Kingdom as a foot health consultant with Herd Health Consultancy. He has a passion for using evidenced-based approaches to challenging lameness on farm and works closely with trimmers and veterinarians to achieve this.

Nick Bell grew up on a small sheep and beef farm on the Welsh border. Following qualifying from the University of Cambridge, Nick spent three years working as a clinician, then applied to do a PhD at the University of Bristol with professors Webster, Whay and Main on lameness in dairy cows. This work led to a post-doctoral research fellowship on the Healthy Feet Project in 2007-10. In 2010, Nick secured a senior lectureship position at the Royal Veterinary College where he worked on the Cow Tracking project with collaborators at Essex, Writtle and Exeter. Since 2016, Nick has worked as an independent herd health veterinary consultant based in Dorset, UK, and as an honorary associate professor at Nottingham University, where he remains involved with lameness and welfare research. He is a member of the European Board of Veterinary specialists and an RCVS recognized specialist in animal welfare. He has interests in claw trimming approaches in dairy cows, having supervised a Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust project (Sophie Mahendran, master’s degree student) and the latest AHDB-funded project (Sara Pedersen, PhD). He also has an interest in automatic monitoring of cow behavior and welfare. He still gets great enjoyment from treating a lame cow and supporting a farmer with an upgrade to a cattle shed.

Marc Spackler obtained his MSBA from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He has worked at dairy giant FrieslandCampina for almost 25 years, including 12 years for FrieslandCampina Nutrifeed in the field of dairy nutrition for calves and piglets.

Since 2014, he joined Intracare's strong team and is responsible for product and market development of Intra Hoof-fit and Intra Hygiene portfolio. Intracare develops, produces and supplies proven and effective antibiotic-free veterinary medicines, biosecurity hygiene products and nutritional innovations for sustainable and modern animal husbandry and horticulture worldwide.

Our state-of-the-art R&D department and laboratories develop solutions for tomorrow's challenges. Global challenges related to diseases, pathogens and their prevention are more important than ever. Working with our partners in the field, we create concepts that deliver sustainable performance, health and growth to the livestock farmer.

Dr. Gerwen Lammers, R&D Manager at Intracare, was raised on a dairy farm and studied Biology at the University of Utrecht. He obtained his PhD in wound healing and skin tissue engineering at the University Medical Center Nijmegen, followed by a postdoctoral research project on human physiology. From 2013, he uses this background in dairy farming, skin physiology and wound healing at Intracare for the development and registration of innovative practical non-antibiotic concepts for the livestock industry.

Steve Wunderlich, now at the age of 36, has given 20 years of dedication to the hoof trimming industry. While traveling, touring, and speaking to groups of people, Steve now has expanded his business to into educating. Expect an educational, brutally honest, and humorous session from Steve!

Veterinarian, June 2023
Specialized within the area of cattle.
Master’s thesis with focus on Corkscrew claws
Bachelor project on BRSV vaccines for calves
Next to studying Christina works at a veterinary clinic for small animals.

Veterinarian, June 2023
Specialized within the area of cattle.
Master’s thesis with focus on Corkscrew claws
Bachelor project on BRSV vaccines for calves
Next to studying Amalie works at a veterinary clinic for small animals

Everything for hoof care
Klovshoppen is a family-run company. The founder is Knud Iversen, who has 39 years of practical experience as a hoof trimmer.
All products are carefully selected and tested by Knud's customers, so we know that it works.
We focus on:
• Good quality
• Favorable prices
• Super customer service
• Advice on the correct use of our products.

A DECADE of DIFFERENCE
For more than a decade, Hoof Tite has focused on being the very best at what we do. We are a solid team of hard-working professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in the animal health industry. Hoof Tite has become an industry leader in the supply of industrial and commercial chemicals sold directly to distributors, but we haven't let our growth change the way we do business. The best endorsements come from our growing number of happy customers. We're a family owned, and operated company and we care about your success!

2006 to 2008 studies of vetenarian medicine at the vetenarian university in Budapest
2008 to 2012 studies of vetenarian medicine at the vetenarian faculty oft the university of Leipzig
2013 and 2014 work as an vetenarian in Germany, Tierarztpraxis Mellinghausen,since october 2014 assistant in the bovine clinic, `Klinik für Klauentiere`, Veterniärmedizinische Fakultät der Universität Leipzig

recent research
disbudding and dehorning in calves

focus of work
curative buiatrics
lameness in cattle

Personal Data
Name Prof. Dr. vet. med. Alexander Starke Dip. ECBHM
Date of birth March 7, 1968
Education and Work Experience
Sept. 1990 - Jan. 1996 Study of Veterinary Medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig
Jan. 1996 Graduation with State examination
Feb. 1996 - June 1996 Scientific Assistant at the Large Animal Clinic for Theriogenology and Ambulatory Services at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig
July 1996 - August 1997 Scholarship for Doctoral Studies at the Large Animal Clinic for Theriogenology and Ambulatory Services at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig
August 1997 Doctor´s degree, Dissertation Thesis: „Stimulation of Uterus Involution using Cloprostenol and Carbetoctin in Cattle early post partum“
7th of August 2003 Specialist Exam for Cattle Diseases
31st of January 2007 Diplomate of the European College of Bovine Health Management (ECBMH)
11th of October 2007 Two years course in Professional Teaching
31st of October 2007 Qualification in Veterinary Herd Management and Quality Assurance on Cattle Producers' Premises
2nd of August 2011 Habilitation Thesis: „Hepatosteatosis in dairy cows - Studies on non-invasive determination of hepatic fat content and hepatic blood flow and the effects of dexamethasone on these two variables in dairy cows.“, Venia legendi for „Cattle Medicine“ and Private Lecturer at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover
Professional Career
Sept. 1997 - March 1998 Locum in farm Animal Practices
April 1998 – Dec. 2011 Scientific Assistant (Assistant Professor) at the Clinic for Cattle at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
Sept. 2011 – Dec. 2011 Guest lecturer at the Ambulatory & Production Medicine Clinic, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
Feb. 2012 Hospitant at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
April 2012 – March 2017 W3 Professor and leader of the Unit for Ruminants and Swine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
Since 1st April 2017 Head of the Clinic for Ruminants and Swine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
Academic Work and Teaching Experience outside the University
Since April 2009 Supervisor and Examiner for Claw Trimmers in the Free State of Saxony
Since September 2014 Member of the Examination Board for Cattle Specialists in the Free States of Saxony and Thuringia
Since June 2015 Member of the Scientific Council of the Middle European Buiatric Congress
Since December 2016 Member of the Innovation Advisory Committee of the AGRA
Since July 2017 Member of the Interessenverband Milcherzeuger e.V. (IVM)
Since November 2017 Head for the German Organization for Hoof Health (IKD)
Since June 2018 Member of the Wirtschafts- und Wissenschaftszentrums Brasilien – Deutschland e. V.
Since April 2019 Head of the Examination Committee for Claw Trimmers in the Free State of Saxony

DIGIDERM® brings a Claw Caring Concept for Dairy Cows which is Effective, Environment Friendly, Antibiotic -free and Easy to Use.
Various clinical trials, where the “Digiderm 3,2,1 method” is consistently used, clearly show an improvment of the claw health. The results confirm that using Digiderm in footbaths is more effective than formalin in prevention of digital dermatitis (DD).
The Digiderm® concept also includes the use of a series of practical products for the claw trimmer. These products (spray and gel) are all based on the Digiderm technology with means lowering the pH and adding chelated minerals in a way that creates antibiotic- free, effective and environment friendly products which can be used by the claw trimmer under safe working conditions.

Menno Holzhauer studied at Utrecht University where he graduated in 1984. He has practiced in the northern part of the country with the focus on cattle, but actually he practiced all species in the outdoor practice. During that time he already looked at different allergic reactions in cattle, mainly on feed components. In 1999 he started working at GD Animal Health in Deventer at the Ruminant Health Department with focus on Lameness on (Dairy) Cattle. At the start of his career at GD, he was more or less directly involved in serious Foot and Mouth Disease problems (clinical diagnostics mainly).
After the FMD crisis he could focus on claw health in Dutch dairy cows, resulting in a thesis in 2006, titled Epidemiological aspects of Different Claw Disorders in Dairy Cattle in The Netherlands. During that time he stetted up a Dutch Recording and Scoring system for claw trimmers in cooperation with DTC Oenkerk and the Dutch Hoof Trimmers Association. The objective was to give the farmer better insight in the effect of (his/her) herd management on claw health. Unfortunately this is not recognized by most farmers and > 80, do not make recording during regular claw trimming and that is one of the reasons we hardly make progress on lameness in dairy cows.
Menno has further worked on improvement of claw health by more than 20 publications on claw health in National and International Scientific Journals and by presentations at International Conferences. The most recent product of this is an evidence based bulk-milk test on biotin, manganese, zinc and Treponema to support dairy farmers in preventing claw disorders. Results of these will be presented at the conference.
Hobbies: cycling, hiking, gardening and meeting friends.
Contact info: m.holzhauer@gdanimalhealth.com

Mamoru was born in the Fukushima Aizu district on a rice farm, where he also attended agricultural school.
After graduating from agricultural school, he moved to Hokkaido, after which he was employed at Masayuki Katayama's hoof trimming company in Hokkaido at the age of 22.
Mamoru has won the championship at the international competition twice, which is very special as there are only three hoof trimmers who have achieved this in the entire history of the competition.
He has also been awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.

Andrea Fiedler graduated from the Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, in 1991.

While writing a thesis on hereditary lameness in Brown Swiss, she had three years of internships at the Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery, followed by four years working for a farm animal practice. Andrea has been established veterinarian since 1998, focused on bovine hoof health and educating hoof trimmers, farmers and veterinarians on the subject of hoof diseases.

Andrea is a member of the examination board of the “Association of Certified Hoof Trimmers” (www.VgK-ev.de). She is also known for her research on hoof health and hoof care products.

Vilofoss is a global leader in the premix and animal nutrition sector as well as animal welfare and hoof health.
Vilofoss has cooperated with farmers and their animal productions for more than 90 years. Our well-founded knowledge and experience are based on extensive research and development activities within the sector of nutrition, health and welfare.
At Vilofoss, we aim to be trustworthy, ambitious and value-creating. We offer individual and unique concepts both on premix and specialties. This means we strive to be our customers' preferred business partner and adviser. We help you to grow and develop by creating new value.

Aaron was introduced to the dairy industry in 2000 after serving 4 years in the United States Navy when he took a job on a small dairy farm. It was on this farm that he found his passion for working with cows. Fascinated with many aspects of the farm, he took a particular interest in hoof trimming and decided to start his hoof trimming business in 2004. After completing a course on the Dutch Method Aaron continued to study the anatomy and bone structure of the bovine hoof to refine his hoof trimming style, called “The Balance Method”. In 2014 Aaron founded Midwestern Hoof Trimming School and has since been requested to consult for large dairy farms worldwide. Aaron has trained hundreds of hoof trimmers with various skill sets, from beginners to veteran professionals, on The Balance Method. He has been selected to speak at conferences and universities globally and has hosted workshops in 7 different counties. Aaron continues to exercise his passion as an active hoof trimmer and services several local top dairy farms in Wisconsin.
Aaron is a husband, a father of 6, and a grandfather. He enjoys spending time with his family and participating in outdoor activities such as hunting, camping, and fishing. His other passions include woodworking and primitive skills.

Contact information: midwesternhoofcare@gmail.com

Intracare develops, produces and supplies proven and effective antibiotic-free veterinary medicines, biosecurity hygiene products and nutritional innovations for sustainable and modern animal husbandry and horticulture worldwide.

The Intra Hoof-fit program is scientifically proven to realize lameness below 5% and is safe for the user, dairy cow and environment. Its practical protocol and convenience to use sets the fresh green standard for hoof trimmers and dairy farmers.

Our state-of-the-art R&D department and laboratories develop solutions for tomorrow's challenges. Global challenges related to diseases, pathogens and their prevention are more important than ever. Working with our partners in the field, we create concepts that deliver sustainable performance, health and growth to the livestock farmer.

Sophie was born and educated in Australia, with a background of agriculture and livestock. She now lives in Sweden and has worked as an animal science researcher for the Swedish University of Agriculture for 16 years (during which time she gained her PhD). Her research activities included a wide range of cattle and pig industry funded projects relevant to improving farm animal welfare during handling, transport and at slaughter, and its link to improved product quality. She also started a company based on her livestock experiences both in Australia and Sweden, where she has conducted both consultation services and practical workshops, promoting low stress handling of cattle, pigs, and sheep. She has delivered over a 100 practical handling courses throughout Scandinavia, where both people and livestock attended.

Piet Kloosterman is a world-renowned and well respected Dutch hoof trimming trainer. He was born and raised on a farm in Friesland and worked from 1980 – 2017 as an instructor/ trainer in Dairy Husbandry at Practical Training Centre (IPC/ PTC +/ DTC) in Oenkerk, The Netherlands. In 1988 he became Head of the Hoof Trimming Department of the Training Centre, training hoof trimming in a wide range of countries over the world.

The main subject for training is hoof trimming in the “Dutch Method” developed by Mr. E. Toussaint Raven from the Veterinairy Faculty of Utrecht. The method is adopted and tutored by the Training Centre Oenkerk to agricultural students, farmers, farm workers, veterinarians and professional hoof trimmers (Diploma course), not only in the Netherlands but also abroad. The Training Centre Oenkerk is an international college for practical training in animal husbandry and grasslandmanagement. Location Oenkerk was the international college for Dairy Husbandry and training goats, sheep and horses.

Piet started international hoof care courses in 1986 in Ireland and from 1987 regularly in the UK (Farmkey, later Genus). He worked for the last 25 years closely with Embryonics in the UK. He was the Secretary and founder of the Dutch Hoof Trimmers Association for 17 years and is a regular visitor of the International Symposia of Lameness in Ruminants, North American congresses of the Hoof Trimmers Association and the annual meetings of the NACFT (UK hoof trimmers association).

Hobbies: ice skating, reading, hiking, traveling

Contact information: mailpietkloosterman@gmail.com

Intracare improves the health and well-being of animals, plants and consumers. Our innovative strength creates sustainable growth and financial returns for farmers and businesses.
The Intra Hoof & Skin Care programme is scientifically proven to realize lameness below 5% and is safe for the user, animal and environment.

Its practical protocol and convenience to use sets the fresh green standard for hoof trimmers and dairy farmers. Intracare is the only company with non-antibiotic veterinary medicines to cure digital dermatitis with a gel or aerosol spray. Complementary footbath and spray products have been developed for full herd maintenance.

Intra Hoof-fit Technology includes chelated organic minerals and a firm adhesion. Production under GMP pharma conditions guarantees a consistent high product quality.

Kurt Bach is a veterinarian employed by Viking Denmark, where he works with development, teaching and advice in better hoof health in dairy cows. Kurt is a trained farmer and trained as a veterinarian in 2008, where he wrote a thesis on finding digital dermatitis in the milking parlor. From 2013 to 2018, Kurt has been employed as a lecturer and PhD student at the University of Copenhagen. Here he has primarily worked with ultrasound scanning of hooves and research into changes in the hooves around calving. Kurt has passed the Danish hoof trimmer exam and currently teaches the Danish hoof trimmer education.
Viking Denmark is Denmark's largest breeding association.