Trends in Trimming

Posted by Media ArticlesLamecow Handlers Essential on 16 July 2010 | 1 Comments

Cattle foot trimming in Europe is a craft, and an important one. Freelance professional trimmers carry kits filled with an array of tools from a simple knife, to magnetic temperature gauges, and power tools. Their clientele? An average of 25 - 80 cows per day. These Bovine Chiropodists visit each herd four times a year to trim overgrown hooves and treat any problems.

Hooves are trimmed to promote good hoof shape, with an emphasis on prevention rather than cure. Trimming has traditionally been done by hand. Now in the U.K, the electric rotary rasp is considered a better tool for hoof trimming. It is considered quicker, and easier with an excellent finish but difficult to master.

European (and American) farmers use specialised cattle crushes. There are many models available, some with hydraulic winches, some manual. There are even some available which turn the cow over! All have wide spaced bars to allow greater access to the cow. While the cow is held in the head bail each hoof can in turn be winched up for examination. Often hoof crushes are owned as standard farm equipment with the farmer treating his own cows, while other farmers opt to have an itinerant trimmer bring in their own.

Perhaps we can learn something from our counterparts in the U.K. New Zealand too has a high incidence of lameness. We have large herd walking great distances, often being treated in poor facilities. It becomes the job of the worker and vet to battle the cow, and leg rope the offending hoof long enough to successfully treat her. With her hoof tied up and nothing supporting the cow, she may ‘go down’ and dislocate a hip, a costly situation which can be easily avoided.

Things are changing down on the farm. Many farmers and veterinarians here are seeing that good facilities are essential for workplace safety, as well as for ease of treatment. Trimming hooves as required, and treating problems as soon as they occur can save money on vet fees, antibiotics, and lost production. The problem has been finding a crush suitable for New Zealand conditions.

European hoof trimmers require a large hydraulic crush for trimming entire herds at a time. We treat little and often - a few cows most days. Their crush is not ideally suited here. The kiwi answer is The Wrangler. Its design is based on European models but with all the features required for use here. It is so unique in fact that it holds the New Zealand hoof crush patent and has won several Fielday equipment awards. Now not only are Kiwi farmers following the Europeans with portable crushes but many are going one step further and incorporating them into new cow shed designs.