Telč came alive for two days with hoof health

Telč transformed for two days into a European hub for hoof health and dairy cow welfare. The Cow Master 2026 conference brought together leading experts in hoof health, biosecurity, and modern dairy farm management from across Europe and the United States.

A conference that doesn’t end with the final lecture

Most professional events end when the last applause fades in the hall. Cow Master 2026 in Telč, however, continued—through lively discussions, on the farm, and in the everyday work of those who took part. The atmosphere of open sharing of experience was one of the strongest impressions of this year’s edition.

The historic town of Telč hosted up to 160 veterinarians, hoof trimmers, and farmers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other European countries. They were all united by a common goal: healthy hooves, a strong focus on dairy cow welfare, and a sustainable future for modern cattle farming.

From a conference to a professional platform

Cow Master is not “just” a hoof health conference. It is becoming a professional platform that connects veterinary medicine, herd management, animal welfare, biosecurity, and the latest scientific insights with real-world farm practice. It is precisely this ability to bridge disciplines and translate theory into concrete on-farm actions that gives the event its true value.

A major strength of the conference is the high professional standard of its program. Telč welcomed speakers who are among the leading authorities in their fields and who have long been shaping current approaches to hoof health, dairy cow welfare, and dairy farm management.

Global authorities in Telč

Professor Christoph K. W. Mülling is one of the most respected experts in hoof anatomy, biomechanics, and pathology. His research has fundamentally influenced how veterinarians around the world approach lameness prevention and the assessment of hoof health in dairy herds.

Dr. Andrea Fiedler has long focused on dairy cow welfare and herd health management. In her work, she connects veterinary medicine with practical farm management, demonstrating that a healthy hoof is always the result of a well-functioning system – from housing and nutrition to everyday animal care.

Another prominent figure in the program was Marcel Drint, co-creator of the CowSignals® concept, which teaches farmers to look at the farm through the eyes of the cow. His approach helps identify the causes of health problems early—before they show up as reduced performance or lameness.

Aaron LaVoy, one of the most respected specialists in functional hoof trimming, came from the United States. His balancing method and comprehensive training system have helped hundreds of hoof trimmers improve their work and reduce the incidence of lameness in dairy herds.

The presence of these experts gave the conference an exceptional professional depth. At the same time, the program offered a wide range of additional lectures and workshops, showing that hoof care today spans the full breadth of modern cattle farming – from biosecurity to genetics.

Biosecurity and new approaches

A significant part of the program focused on biosecurity. MVDr. Milan Hronec shared first-hand experience with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and emphasized that biosecurity and prevention are the responsibility of everyone involved in running a farm. Timely response and well-designed processes are key to protecting livestock operations.

eterinary technician and hoof trimmer Lukáš Gubáň led a practically oriented workshop in which he presented the professional equipment used by modern hoof trimmers. He demonstrated how technical facilities influence the quality, safety, and efficiency of work in practice. Dr. Gerwen Lammers, Ph.D., together with Dr. Anita van Dorst, focused on non-antibiotic approaches to the prevention and control of lameness. Their presentation showed that, with proper herd management, the incidence of hoof problems can be significantly reduced even without the use of antibiotics.

From theory straight to the farm

A key highlight of the conference was the strong link between lectures and hands-on practice at the Třebelovice Agricultural Cooperative farm. Participants had the opportunity to see how modern knowledge translates into everyday operations – from housing and nutrition to zoohygiene, biosecurity, and the organization of daily animal care.

It became clear that hoof care is not an isolated discipline, but an integral part of the comprehensive management of the entire farm. Healthy hooves are therefore not a goal in themselves, but rather the result of a well-balanced and properly managed farming system.

Open discussion instead of monologues

Throughout the conference, an exceptionally open and friendly atmosphere prevailed. The speakers, so to speak, did not remain only behind the lectern—they actively engaged in discussions with participants, answered questions, and shared experiences from universities, clinical practice, and farms from around the world.

In one place, world-renowned experts, veterinarians, hoof trimmers, and farmers naturally came together. Scientific knowledge did not remain only on the screen but was immediately transformed into discussions about its practical application on specific farms. This openness and willingness to share experiences are among the main pillars of the conference.

A conference built on content

Cow Master takes place every two years. This format allows the program to reflect current developments in the field and bring new knowledge, experience, and leading figures from veterinary medicine, hoof care, and dairy farming. The aim of these gatherings is to create a space for open sharing of experience, discussion of new findings, and the search for practical solutions for modern dairy farms. The tradition of the conference will therefore not be built on regularity alone, but above all on high-quality content, open discussion, and an environment that encourages a shared search for new perspectives on everyday practice.

If the participants left Telč with new knowledge, inspiration, valuable contacts, and the desire to look at their work from a slightly different perspective, then Cow Master 2026 fulfilled its main purpose.