Hoof Clips Newsletter
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This next edition of Hoof Clips is about “The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Hoof Care: A Dairy Farmer’s Tale.”
I’m about to share a story that made an impression during my trimming career, which I’ll never forget.
Dairy farming can sometimes feel like a never-ending treadmill. Amid the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to miss certain crucial aspects of herd management.
This morning, I remembered the event that happened on Josh’s farm—a dedicated dairy farmer client who learned firsthand about the importance of timely hoof care.
Josh has been in the dairy business for over 30 years, managing about 55 cows in an old barn. At over 60 years old and without anyone to take over his farm, his days are packed with the milking routine and daily chores.
Hoof care was often an afterthought because he was too busy and had no proper hoof trimming stall to lift a hoof. His herd wasn’t suffering drastically, but many of his cows had long, neglected hooves.
Our First Day of Trimming with Josh
One day, Josh called me over to trim his cows’ hooves. As I got to work, it became evident just how long those hooves were. The process went smoothly, and soon, piles of hoof clips were piling around my trimming chute.
In the middle of the afternoon, Josh mentioned a cow in the dry cow pen that could hardly walk. “Hey, I got one more back there. Do you mind looking at her, too?” We headed over to take a closer look.
There she was – cow #67. When we got her moving, she took just 10-15 steps before lying down again. Josh admitted she had been in that pen for three to four years (yes, years! – no typo). She was supposed to gain weight to someday sell her, but that never happened yet; she ate and drank only to survive.
The Hoof Trimming Revelation on #67
We got her into the chute, and I noticed her hooves were about four to five inches too long—just like her herd mates. After trimming her sore leg—right front leg—I discovered a small toe ulcer.
(I say “small” because it was not even the size of the nail of my pinky finger – max. 1 cm)
After trimming, I placed her on a block. When I returned a month later to check the progress, she wasn’t limping anymore and had actually started to gain weight. Josh managed to sell her a few months later.
Needless to say, these are the scenarios to help a cow make our hoof-trimming career exciting and rewarding.
Lameness Affects Long-Term Revenue
This case at this farm made me think – many “what-ifs” popped into my head.
Now, let’s do some math: If we had not trimmed her, she would have continued to limp and lose weight. If we had not trimmed her toe ulcer, it would have gotten worse and possibly infected.
What if, in those four years, this cow had four lactations and four calves, each worth $2,500? That’s $10,000 gone right there.
If we account for the lost milk production of 8,000 litres per year, at $0.85 per litre, that adds up to $6,800 per lactation. Over four years, that’s another $27,200. That’s a staggering $37,200 lost cash flow due to a single lame cow. Yikes!
Although this calculation is a bit exaggerated, the point is that even $5,000 or $1,000 can be significant amounts of money if lameness goes unnoticed or untreated.
A Small Investment in a Trimming Session Brings in Great Profits
The key takeaway? Timely hoof care is crucial. Ignoring it doesn’t just affect the cow’s well-being; it also hits your wallet hard. Regular hoof trimming can prevent long-term issues, keeping your cows productive and your farm profitable.
Josh’s story is a valuable lesson: Don’t wait until it’s too late! If you see a cow limping, trim her hoof immediately or check her out if you have a chute on your farm—this small action can save time and money.
Keeping your cows’ hooves healthy is key to their overall well-being and your farm’s success.
Do you want to get the inside scoop on hoof trimming? We’ve got you covered! Check out our step-by-step guide to bovine hoof trimming and make sure your herd stays in top shape.
Happy cows, happy farmers!
Koos
