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Tackling Lameness in Dairy Cows

Tackling Lameness in Dairy Cows
Sep 18, 2025
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

AI driven hoof care and monitoring unveiled

Specialty Sales, LLC and Nedap Livestock have joined forces to bring advanced hoof care and AI powered monitoring to U.S. dairy farms. The companies will announce their partnership on Tuesday, September 30, during a World Dairy Expo Tanbark Talk open to all visitors. 

The collaboration combines HoofStrong® Automated Hoof Care with SmartSight, an artificial intelligence system that tracks cow movement to detect early signs of lameness. Together, these technologies aim to transform lameness management by providing real time, continuous, and objective data. 

Scientific research shows that human assessments of cow lameness can differ widely, and mild cases are often overlooked. SmartSight’s AI driven insights address this challenge by delivering dependable locomotion scoring while reducing the need for specialized workers. 

With HoofStrong and SmartSight, dairy producers can consistently identify cows at the earliest stage of lameness, simplify the data into actionable insights, and work with HoofStrong specialists to proactively refine foot bath management for different herd conditions. 

The partnership also helps overcome labor shortages and supports a more holistic approach to animal health. By combining automated hoof care with AI monitoring, farms can improve cow comfort, boost productivity, and reduce long term treatment costs. 

Matt Nelson, CEO of Specialty Sales, Maarten Idink, Managing Director of Nedap Livestock, and Greg Kowalewski, Farm Manager at Aurora Oakwood Dairy, will share details and answer questions during the event. 

This initiative highlights how smart farming technology is becoming an essential tool for U.S. dairy operations, ensuring healthier herds and more efficient management practices for the future. 

Photo Credit: gettyimages-vwalakte


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