Strategic hoof trimming to improve herd health status and longevity
Strategic hoof trimming, also knows as routine hoof trimming, is a preventative practice where the entire herd has their hooves examined (and trimmed if required). It helps to prevent future cases of lameness, improving longevity and animal welfare, and reducing economic costs. Routine hoof trimming restores the conformation of the hoof, and allows for the detection and treatment of mild lesions that are not yet causing lameness. Routine hoof trimming also reduced the number of overgrown claws, which is a risk to some lesion types. Information obtained from a routine trim allows for the most common lesions within the herd to be identified, enabling the risks associated with these lesion types to be minimized. Routine trimming should be seen as a ‘routine inspection’. Upon inspection of the hoof, trained personnel should decide if trimming is required. It is recommended that a routine inspection is carried out a minimum of once per year at drying off, however, a second routine inspection ~8 weeks post-partum may be beneficial. Hoof trimming should be carried out by trained personnel, and care must be taken not to over trim. Farmers can carry out routing trimming themselves if they have the correct equipment (trimming crate, trimming knife, grinder etc.) and have had adequate training (course or mentor). A professional hoof trimmer or vet can also be hired to carry out routine trimming. It is also important that farmers do wait until the scheduled routine trim to treat a cow identified as lame. A severely lame cows should be treated as soon as possible and a mildly lame cow within 48 hours of identification.
Resilience for Dairy
Completed | 2021-2024
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, Northern Ireland