Thank you for signing up to The Press and Journal newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up As the temperatures drop, more and more of the dry cows have been moved inside for the winter and, just in time, Nick has had a new-to-him Hoofcount system fitted in the main shed to address the foot health of the herd. This smart system comprises footbaths fitted into the entrance to the two robotic milking machines. What makes them clever is that after 200 cows have walked through, they automatically empty themselves and refill. Plumbed in and hooked up to a drum of antibacterial fluid and an air source, the footbaths help combat dermatitis in the cows’ feet which can be a real issue, because if a cow has sore feet she’ll be reluctant to visit the robot for cake and then loses condition and won’t milk well.