Communication, Skill Good Hoof Trimmer Traits

By Ron Johnson, Dairy Editor
Thursday, December 27, 2007 11:48 AM CST

This might seem like a dumb question, but “What should you expect from your hoof trimmer?”

The easy and equally dumb answer is that you want someone to trim your cattle’s hooves.

But the answer is more complicated than that, says Jan Shearer, a professor and Extension dairy veterinarian at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Shearer addressed that question during recent hoof care training seminars sponsored by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW).

It might come as a surprise, but Shearer said one of the main criteria of a good hoof trimmer is someone who can and will communicate with the herd manager or owner. “You need someone who will tell you, ‘I can’t fix this cow,’” the veterinarian said.

By being honest and up front about the conditions of some cows, a hoof trimmer can save a herd owner time, money and aggravation over the long haul. Rather than trying to repair a severely hurting cow, it might be better to send her packing and focus on the cattle that can be helped.

In these times of increasing concern about farm animal welfare, it’s also a good idea, Shearer said, to find a trimmer who likes cows and handles them as gently as possible. Look for, he said, “someone who handles them well and treats them like ladies.”

Of course, you also want a hoof trimmer who knows his or her stuff. Shearer quoted E. Toussaint Raven, who literally wrote a book on hoof trimming, titled “Cattle Footcare and Claw Trimming.” Rave wrote, according to Shearer, “If there is no lameness problem, trimming can produce it.”

Raven also wrote, “Claw trimming is a skill that must be learned. It requires superior training and practice.”

That point made, Shearer urged his listeners to take pains to find out whether the person trimming their cows’ hooves, or the one they’re thinking about hiring, is properly trained. Also find out where the trimmer learned the skill and how.

Make sure your hoof trimmer does not remove more horn than necessary, Shearer continued. Hooves should not be trimmed so deeply that the soft tissue on the bottom is reached.

Trimming that deeply only makes walking and standing painful. It’s just the opposite of what a trimmer should be shooting for: “to make the cow more functional in her environment,” Shearer said.

“There is no way to put more horn back on,” he emphasized.

A good hoof trimmer knows not only how much horn to remove, but where to remove it from, Shearer continued. The idea is to trim so that a cow can stand with her weight off the sore area.

How often?

Shearer went on to talk about how often dairy cows need to have their hooves trimmed. Farms in areas like Wisconsin might need to trim their cows’ hooves twice a year, while farms in other places might get by trimming less often.

In the Southeast, for example, hoof trimming is usually needed only once a year, Shearer said. That’s because “excessive” hoof wear tends to be a problem there, he explained.

Some larger dairy operations in states like Florida and Georgia pay very close attention to trying to detect lameness. Sheared showed a slide of a farm employee holding a clipboard and watching each cow walk as she left the milking parlor.

For dairy producers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, Shearer offered this advice: Examine your cows’ feet at least twice a year. Then, “Only trim when you have to,” he suggested.

It’s also a good idea, Shearer said, to talk to your trimmer so she or he only trims the hooves of cows that need it. Not all cows will need trimming at any given time.

“If you sent through 50 cows, how many do you think they’re going to trim?” Shearer asked. “Overtrimming is still one of the biggest problems we have.”

When should hooves be trimmed? Is it best done when cows are in the middle of their lactations? Is trimming during the dry period better? Shearer did not offer a concrete answer because there is none.

More important than the time of trimming is “who does it,” the professor said.

Look for a trimmer, Shearer said, who understands this principle: “Part of fixing a foot is trimming it.” And, try to hire a trimmer who knows that it’s important to always trim the healthy foot that’s opposite the lame foot.

A good, professional trimmer also knows that hooves should be trimmed so they’re flat. Shearer explained that flat hooves give cows more surface area to stand on, letting them get a better grip on concrete floors.

Without flat hooves, cows’ hooves will “splay,” or spread apart. When that happens, their hooves wear down faster because they’re applying more weight.

A good trimmer also knows the difference between a normal hoof and one that needs trimming or has been damaged. “You can’t make ‘normal’ better,” the veterinarian pointed out.

How many cows?

How many cows should a good hoof trimmer be able to handle in a day? For “maintenance trimming,” Shearer put the number at 30 to 60 for one person.

For lame cows, he pegged it even lower, saying one person can properly trim 15 to 30 a day.

“Lame cows take time,” Shearer emphasized. “And they take a lot of time if you don’t have the right facilities and equipment.”

Another question Shearer is often asked is, “How long does it take a lame cow to recover?” The answer is, “It depends.”

It depends on the severity of her lameness first. It also depends on the quality of the corrective trimming and whether or not she received a follow-up examination.

Shearer recommended monitoring lame cows five to seven days after trimming. Yes, that can be a tall order in large herds, he admitted. But, he assured, “It’s amazing how well these cows will do if you stay with them and keep working on them.”

Sharp blades

Shearer reminded that blades on grinders, chippers and knives must be sharp n “like a razor.” Sharp blades not only are easier to work with, but they speed the trimming process.

He also talked about the physical layout of a farm’s hoof trimming area. Too often, Shearer said, long, straight alleyways lead to the trimming chute. No cow in her right mind is going to want to enter in that arrangement, he indicated.

Instead, the veterinarian suggested building curved entrances that cattle are unable to see around. He also suggested covering gate panels along the way with something like tarps, to eliminate background clutter that can confuse a cow and make her nervous.

“If you’re building a new facility, put some thought into this area,” he urged. “It’ll really pay dividends.”

A farm is more likely to retain a good hoof trimmer if it provides a good place to work. That includes making sure there’s plenty of light, a floor that’s at least somewhat comfortable and clean for both the trimmer and the cattle, and a table to hold the trimmer’s equipment.

Don’t, Shearer said, do like one farm in Georgia. That one has the trimmer working outdoors n “right out in the sun.”

Worth the money

Proper, timely hoof trimming is money well spent, Shearer said. He cited the example of a southern dairy operation that lost 4.3 percent of its cows per year to foot problems.

At the time, replacement heifers cost $1,850 and a lame cow had a salvage value of $300. That meant every cow culled for lameness cost that dairy $1,550.

After setting in place a good hoof trimming program, that farm was able to reduce its cow loss due to lameness to no more than 1.5 percent per year. For that farm, the difference resulted in savings of $93,000 per year.

“And that was when heifers were worth $1,850,” Shearer said. “They’re a lot higher today.”

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