Today’s burning question: hoof trimming frequency
If you ask five people how often your herd requires hoof trimming, you may end up with six opinions. OK, that’s probably stretching it a bit but the fact remains that opinions on this matter vary greatly.
When dairy producers ask me this question, I tend to start the conversation with a question of my own. I usually ask if they agree with me on the key point of hoof trimming, which is the prevention of serious problems and control of lameness. I mean, don’t you feel that you gain so much more when you do your best to prevent lameness from occurring or when you minimize its effects?
What causes lameness?
I have devoted a lot of time and energy to exploring the subject and you can check our other blog posts for more information about lameness and lameness control. Still, let me give you the short version.
Lameness can be the result of various environmental factors. These include housing facilities, feeding, flooring, and hoof trimming practices.
In addition, there are “cow-specific” factors that contribute to lameness. Examples include genetics, stage in lactation, and previous lameness issues.
That said, it’s obvious that one herd would be more prone to lameness than another. Moreover, some cows in the same herd tend to be more prone than others.
Timing guidelines
We subscribe to the view that producers should check every animal in their chutes twice a year. I bolded “check” for a reason, namely to emphasize that you should never over-trim a cow! If the hoof looks good, you’ll get the feeling of satisfaction that the cow is all set and good to go for another six months. If you know that a particular animal is prone to lameness, make sure to check her again in, say, three months.
