Hoof Clips Newsletter
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A Look Back: Hoof Trimming Then and Now
It seems like only yesterday when I launched my career as a hoof trimmer in 1994. Attending to long-hoofed or lame cows was the order of the day. In later years, the practice evolved to whole herd trims, including dry cows and heifers, making it our collective shift towards prevention over cure.
Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, the increasing use of robotic milking machines is revolutionizing the way we farm. However, this has made time management more challenging for farmers and hoof trimmers. Scheduling whole herd trims or full-day trimming sessions has become more difficult due to the 24/7 operation of the robot milkers.
The Challenges: Syncing Schedules and Decreasing Trimmer Availability
But even with these advancements, there remains a snag. Aligning the milking time and trimmers’ schedules can be an uphill task. Trimmers need ample time to clean equipment, wash units, and travel to the next farm. Particularly in Alberta, traveling between farms can take a while, especially when the trimmers have to drive long distances on rural roads. This can make it difficult for trimmers and their clients to coordinate a time that works for both parties.
Of late, I’ve had a surge of queries from farmers to locate hoof trimmers, indicating a shrinking pool of available trimmers in North America. With many nearing retirement, this creates a foreseeable problem for our bovine friends.
- A Searchable Trimmer Database: Set to launch in early 2024, this will allow farmers across North America to locate and contact nearby trimmers for their needs. Professional hoof trimmers will have the opportunity to post their contact information on this platform.
- Motivate the Next Generation of Trimmers: Encouraging young individuals to join this rewarding career path could help stop the dwindling number of hoof trimmers. Resources like these training centers (Vic’s Hoof Trimming Course in Ontario, Western Hoof Trimmer Course in Alberta, or Dairyland Hoof Care Institute in Wisconsin) are a great start. The following hoof care associations can equip them with the needed knowledge and buddy support: WCCHTA, OHG, and HTA
- Teach Farmers to Trim Their Own Herds: Though a time-intensive task, this effort can pay dividends in terms of biosecurity and prompt attention to lame cows. It’s also an exciting prospect: imagine a hybrid model whereby a professional trimmer handles larger groups of cows while you attend to individual cases. The return on this investment, both in satisfaction and cost-savings (considering a lame cow costs around $300-$400 per case), is worth it.
The Dream Scenario: Hybrid Schedules and Farmer-Empowerment
In a perfect world, a hybrid schedule and setup would emerge as a win-win for all. Imagine the farm with its state-of-the-art chute, coveralls, and boots teaming up by bringing in the hoof trimmer for larger bunches. The hoof trimmer uses the farm’s setup, and the farmer handles post-trim washing, enabling the trimmer to move on to the next job swiftly. This model not only enhances biosecurity but also enables easiness of immediate attention to lameness for the in-between cows.
Getting started with the Hybrid Hoofcare Plan does require an initial investment in professional equipment, a worthwhile expenditure since a chute lasts a lifetime. In addition, the hoof trimmer and veterinarians can provide you with the necessary knowledge and support on your hoof-trimming journey.
To help you kick start, I am providing exclusive 1-hour virtual 1-on-1 sessions for only a small fee, where I’ll share the basics of hoof trimming and answer any of your hoof care questions. Let me know if this interests you, and I will schedule a time slot.
What do you think about this DIY approach, and how easy do you find it to locate a local trimmer? I look forward to your feedback. Just hit REPLY, and as always, I’ll personally answer all emails.
Happy trimming!
Koos