Hoof Trimming Lessons
HERD HEALTH
Trimming your small ruminant’s hooves is important for their
overall wellbeing. It can impact their performance, disease
resistance and welfare. As part of a herd health routine
hooves should be checked for disease and excess growth
often. Animals exhibiting chronic hoof disease or excessive
abnormal hoof growth should be culled. Maintaining hooves
allows for better air flow reducing the changes of bacteria
that can cause infection. Trimming helps prevent lameness
and promote proper hoof growth in young animals.
TRIMMING PROCESS
Once you have all the proper tools and have practiced your
restraint method, you can begin the trimming process. Grasp one leg
by the pastern (ankle) and bend it back. Make sure the animal isn’t
over reaching and calm. With the point of closed shears, scrape away
any debris. Pry open and snip off the outer hoof wall flap folded under
the hoof. Trim down until you see the white sole. You will then see a
growth ring parallel to the hairline. Trim away ragged edges of inner
hoof wall between the two halves of the hoof. Trim the soft heel, one
tiny slice at a time until the heel is the same level as the toe. Stop
trimming if you begin to see pink. This means you are close to the
foot’s blood supply. If bleeding occurs, sprinkle the area with blood
shop powder
