Élevé pour s'occuper des vaches
Growing up on a Holstein dairy farm in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Lee used to watch hoof trimmers care for his family’s cattle, and he saw the immediate impact it had on a cow’s wellbeing. His dad was also a big influence on his interest in animal welfare, often repeating the adage, “Take care of the cow, and she’ll take care of us.”
Now a Dairy Technical Specialist for the eastern half of the United States, Lee is proud of the role he plays in alleviating cows’ suffering by helping to improve their hoof health.
A Careful Career Path
Although a love of James Herriot books in childhood almost sent him down a path to being a veterinarian, Lee decided to pursue a more specialized career that gave him more immediate impact on an animal’s wellbeing. He attended Dairy Line Hoof Care Institute to become a hoof trimmer. After an apprenticeship period, Lee purchased his first trimming chute and worked as an independent hoof trimmer in western Wisconsin. He later returned to Dairy Line as an instructor to help others get started in the field.
Beyond the Hoof
Caring for the whole animal, and complementing the nutrition that Zinpro® minerals provide, drives Lee’s daily work. He knows hoof health has a unique impact on a dairy cow’s quality of life, from reproduction to milk production to longevity. Optimizing mineral nutrition helps strengthen the hoof to set the animal up for a strong foundation and a lifetime of performance.
Eliminating Language Barriers
In his role with Zinpro, Lee leads hoof care training for dairy farms and their employees, many of whom speak Spanish. Fortunately, Lee started taking Spanish classes in high school and continued learning the language through service work at his local church. Now fully bilingual, Lee conducts training and communicates with customers and employees in their preferred language, so nothing gets lost in translation.
Evolving Expertise
One of the aspects of hoof care that Lee enjoys most is its ever-changing nature. As dairy operations evolve in size and environment, hoof care needs also evolve. He appreciates the ongoing educational opportunities he receives through Zinpro, that then benefit his customers and their cows.
Lee also enjoys being on a team where each person has their own area of expertise, knowing that when they come together, they can make an even bigger impact on the dairy farm.
Unique en son genre. Unis dans la même pensée.
Lee’s story is unique, but he’s committed to Zinpro’s shared goal: helping producers bring out the best in their animals.
C'est ça, l'effet Zinpro®.
