How to clean a cow's hooves. About trimming cows' hooves

The hoof, according to the encyclopedia, is a hard horny formation around the distal digital phalanges of ungulate mammals (clickable photo). And of course, as you probably guessed, the anatomical structure of the hoof corresponds to human nails and, therefore, has the property of growing back.

Now imagine this situation! You don’t take care of your toenails for, say, three months, or better yet five, plus you’re wearing terribly tight shoes! How long will you last?

I think no! Most likely, you will throw out your tight shoes and run to cut your nails.

But cows cannot act like you. In addition, she needs to be milked every day and carry a calf. And do not forget that in most farms animals are deprived of active exercise (active movement).

Therefore, hooves and their condition are of great importance for the health of animals. After all, the animal’s limbs can withstand enormous live weight (450-600 kg) and absorb the shock force when walking. Therefore, the hooves must be in perfect condition.

It is known that an increase in productivity inevitably leads to the fact that cows become more sensitive to diseases of the limbs, which, in terms of prevalence, but not in terms of damage caused, rank third place after mastitis and gynecological diseases of cows. Hoof diseases are one of the most costly items in the treatment of cows.

Prevention is better than cure

There are many factors that can cause lameness in cows, such as infection, low fiber diet and others. Lame cows spend a lot of time lying down and consume less feed and water, resulting in lower milk production.

Lame cows require careful care and treatment. If surgical treatment is carried out, a long recovery period is required.

Preventive measures can prevent the development of severe lameness, increase the locomotor activity of cows with moderate lameness, and extend the productive life of the cow.

Lameness in cows can be prevented by the following measures:

Choose healthy breeding stock.

The diet should contain a balanced amount of fiber and minerals.

Distribute concentrates at least three times a day in small portions or use a fully mixed diet.

Keep the barn, passages and walking areas clean and dry to prevent the spread of infection.

Trim your hooves at least once a year (twice is optimal).

Prevent peri-calving lameness

Create comfortable conditions for animals to rest

Use hoof baths regularly

Hoof trimming has two main purposes:

Ensure stability and mobility of the hooves.

Identify hoof problems early, before clinical signs and lameness occur.

The shape of a cow's hoof and gait are influenced by environmental conditions.

Hard surfaces disrupt the relationship between the outer and inner hooves, which leads to asymmetry between them and, as a result, injuries and lameness. Proper hoof trimming and good floor quality help distribute weight evenly between the hooves and restore hoof shape. It is recommended to trim hooves twice a year. The best time to trim hooves is at the beginning of the dry period, so that cows will have healthy feet when the next lactation begins.

Causes of lameness in cows

four main causes of lameness in cows

v sole ulcer,

v white line disease,

v digital dermatitis and

v interdigital necrobacillosis (“rot” or “hoof rot”)

Sole ulcers and white line disease are lesions of the hoof and therefore result from disruption of the hoof horn, while foot rot and digital dermatitis are infectious disorders of the epidermis and dermis of the skin.

What causes hoof diseases and how to prevent them

Ideally, a cow should rest in a stall for 12-14 hours a day. All factors that reduce rest time increase the likelihood of hoof disease and lameness. It is critical to reduce rest time in the precalving period, when the animal experiences a slow rate of growth of the hoof horn compared to the rate of its wear. Without adequate time in the stall, the sole of the hoof quickly becomes thinner, leading to lameness. This is especially noticeable when kept loose on concrete floors.

In the first few weeks after calving, there is increased flexibility of the ligamentous apparatus of the hoof, which leads to greater mobility of the navicular bone. When an animal stands for a long time, there is a risk of injury to the soft tissues of the hoof, which leads to hemorrhages and, as a result, can lead to the formation of a sole ulcer.

II Feeding the animals

A diet high in starch and low in fibre, which leads to rumen acidosis, undoubtedly predisposes to the development of lameness, especially during the pre- and post-calving period. Livesey and Flemming (1984) reported that 64% of cows fed a low fiber diet suffered from sole ulcers. By comparison, this was observed in only 8% of animals fed a high-fiber diet.

III Animal hygiene

IY Prevention of hoof diseases

a) Hoof baths

Footbaths play an extremely important role in controlling infectious diseases that cause lameness. As with mastitis, control is about preventing the disease, not treating it. An isolated clinical case of, for example, digital dermatitis should be considered a source of infection and a risk for other cows, which requires immediate treatment. The use of hoof baths is indicated for the treatment of the initial stages of infectious hoof diseases, for example, with hyperkeratinization of the skin around the interdigital space, which is characteristic of digital dermatitis. It is at this point that hoof bath treatment should begin to prevent this disease from developing into open wounds. Hoof bath treatments should be performed on a regular basis to achieve the best results.

What products are used in hoof baths?

The most popular today are hoof baths using copper sulfate and formaldehyde. The use of these drugs has its pros and cons.

Formalin (formaldehyde 37%)

Copper sulfate

Zinc sulfate

Foam products

Formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is an effective means of preventing infectious hoof diseases. The recommended effective concentration is 2-5%. A bath with a volume of 200-250 liters must be changed after passing 200-250 heads. The use of formaldehyde is ineffective at temperatures below 13°C. Its use is also dangerous for farm personnel. Strong odors can cause allergic reactions in employees, which may include redness of the skin, inflammation of the mucous membranes and irritation of the respiratory tract (asthma). In some European countries, the use of formaldehyde is prohibited due to its carcinogenic properties.

Advantages:

Effective control of infectious hoof diseases (4-5% recommended concentration)

Strengthening the hoof horn

Flaws:

Possesses carcinogenic properties

It has a pungent odor, which is why it is unacceptable to use in the absence or poor ventilation

The use of formaldehyde can cause irritation of mucous membranes, skin irritation and bronchial asthma in personnel

Use is prohibited by law in many countries

Ineffective at temperatures below 13 C

Severe pain reaction after passing through a bath with dermatitis.

Copper sulfate. Zinc sulfate.

Copper sulfate - An effective means of preventing infectious hoof diseases. The recommended concentration for treatment is 5-10%.

There are several difficulties when using copper sulfate. The first is the labor-intensive process of diluting the powder. The second problem is the accumulation of the product in the soil, which has a negative impact on the environment, and therefore the use of copper sulfate is strictly regulated in European countries. The third problem is that the antiseptic properties of copper sulfate are greatly reduced when manure and dirt get into the bath.

Advantages:

Copper sulfate is an effective remedy for the prevention of infectious hoof diseases in a concentration of 3 to 5%.

Flaws:

Sold in powder, must be dissolved before use

Both products pollute the environment with heavy metals

They do not decompose in the environment and have a bad effect on manure fermentation.

Foam products.

Two-component products

Active ingredients:

Peracetic acid

Surfactants and dyes

Advantages:

Convenient to use product

Clearly visible on the hooves

Flaws:

Pungent odor, farm employees often complain of feeling unwell

Uncontrolled flow (minimum height 15 mm)

Covers only the front part of the claw, without affecting the back part and without getting into the interdigital space)

7 rules when using hoof baths:

We follow the rules

However, no matter what means you use, the processing efficiency will be low if at least one of the following rules is not followed:

ü The bath should be located in a place where 100% of the livestock passes.

ü The length of the bath should be 2-3 meters, width about 1 meter, depth 15 cm.

ü Before the bath with a disinfectant solution, it is necessary to install a bath with water or a bath with a solution for pre-cleaning the hooves. The effectiveness of the antiseptic solution is greater when clean hooves are treated. In addition, a bathtub with a disinfectant solution becomes less dirty.

ü To achieve maximum effectiveness of preventive treatments, replace the solution in the bath after the passage of 200 - 250 animals (depending on the degree of contamination of the solution).

ü When changing the solution in the bath, remove all dirt! Only pour the disinfectant solution into a clean bathtub.

ü Carry out manure removal in sections while cows are milking; after treatment, animals should return to a clean, dry section with a minimum amount of manure.

ü The frequency of treatment depends on the number of cows with hoof problems and the cleanliness of the barn. It is recommended to carry out treatment 2 times a week under favorable conditions, and daily under unfavorable conditions.

b) Hoof trimming

It is important to regularly trim cows' hooves. The growth of the hoof horn leads to a redistribution of the animal's weight from the toe part to the sole or to the crumb. As a result, the stratum corneum of the hoof pulp grows and floats onto the sole of the hoof. Pododermatitis and soft tissue injuries may develop, and the risk of infectious hoof diseases increases. A prolonged absence of hoof trimming leads to stretching of the ligamentous apparatus of the claws, which is almost impossible to restore, even after subsequent hoof trimming.

Source: Magazine "Agricultural News"

Prevention of limb diseases

(Animal husbandry. Modern technologies. Tyumen, 2007 Publishing House "TAYA-AgroMedia"

Healthy limbs are the key to good health for a dairy cow. It is necessary to try to prevent diseases of the limbs. This is achieved, first of all, by the good work of the cattlemen. With proper limb care, lameness should not be a problem. The main recommendations for proper foot care are:

· Maintain good hygienic conditions, keeping surfaces dry, with proper drainage to avoid contamination of surrounding areas;

· A sufficient amount of high-quality roughage and avoiding sudden changes in the daily diet;

· Regular hoof trimming is carried out when cattle are kept in stalls every 3-4 months. When housing cows in free-stall boxes with a slatted floor in the passages between the boxes, pruning can be done 2 times a year, in spring and autumn;

Regular use of foot baths;

· Selection of sires that will improve the quality of the offspring’s limbs;

· Regular inspection of the herd to identify cases of limb disease, determine the degree and extent of lameness in the herd (the presence of a veterinarian during and after milking when milking in the milking parlor).

· Mandatory registration and processing of data on all cases of limb diseases.

Also, in the prevention of purulent-necrotic pododermatitis and necrobacteriosis, much attention should be paid to the issues of proper maintenance and care of the hooves, as well as providing physiologically necessary exercise. It is necessary to conduct a veterinary examination and trim the hooves of animals as necessary at least once every 2 months, and treat the hooves at least twice a week with a 3-5% formaldehyde solution or a 5% paraform solution. It is necessary to constantly take into account measures to exclude traumatic injuries and infection in the area of ​​​​the hooves of cows.

Prompt isolation and treatment of any animals showing signs of lameness also reduces the risk of limb disease.

The likelihood of injury to the limbs of cattle increases with a high intensity of attack by blood-sucking insects. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to protect animals from attacks by blood-sucking insects, keep them under shady canopies or on elevated areas of pastures during the heat and flight of insects, and use repellents and insecticides.

Animals are sprayed when released from the pens onto pasture using horizontal spray booms (SHGR) or universal horizontal spray booms - SHGRU, "Oleo-mac", "Shtil", etc.

Insecticides and repellents are used in the form of aqueous emulsions (w.e.) by medium-volume spraying at the rate of 500 ml per adult animal and 250 ml per young animal or low-volume spraying, respectively, 100 and 50 ml per animal. To do this, use drugs based on permethrin (Stomozan, Anomethrin, Persan, Rovikurt) in 0.05% and 0.25%; cypermethrin (cymbush, arrivo, ectomin, cenometrin, citcor, vetin, cyperil, biorex-GC, etc.) - 0.0125% and 0.0625%; deltamethrin (butox, delcid, decis, K-otrin) - 0.001% and 0.005%, fenvalerate (sumicidin, baversan) 0.04% and 0.2% concentration.

Preventive hoof treatment technologycattle

The animal is fixed in the pen, the limbs are raised diagonally, for example the left pelvic and right thoracic. The treatment is carried out by two people at the same time (Fig. 17);

The hooves are taken in the palm of the hand and cleaned of dirt and manure;

Measure the length of the hooves from the crown to the toe and evaluate their height relative to each other. As a rule, on the pelvic limbs, the outer claw is larger than the inner one and slightly higher. On chests it’s the other way around. If the hooves are overgrown in length, then use hoof tongs to bite off the tips so that the distance of the front side wall from the corolla to the toe edge is 7.5 cm (Fig. 16);

Treatment begins with the hoof that is higher. First, a milling cutter is used to create a plane perpendicular to the axis of the limb. At the same time, the flaws of the sole are cut off and the white line becomes clearly visible. Thinning of the sole stops when its thickness is approximately 3-5 mm. Even if there are deep flaws that have not been filed down (cracks, crumbling horn, etc.). The thickness of the sole is determined by pressing on it with your thumb. Then they begin to process the second claw so that the soles of both claws form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the limb (Fig. 18). After this, the remaining flaws are cut out using the edge of a cutter or a hoof knife.

They give the correct slope between the hooves, i.e. they form a so-called hole. The shape of the hole should resemble the size of a walnut (Fig. 19);

Remove the horn of the side walls to the white line on the inner and outer sides of the hooves (Fig. 20).

Again take the treated hooves in the palm and check the correctness of the work done. It is more convenient to do this if you attach the handle of a hoof knife to the sole of the hooves and draw along the entire length. When done correctly, the sole of both hooves, with the exception of the hole area, fits tightly to the handle of the hoof knife.

Immunoprophylaxis

Proper maintenance and care of hooves, provision of physiologically necessary exercise and measures to prevent traumatic injuries and infection in the hooves are the key to the health of cattle. But it is possible to almost completely prevent the development of necrobacteriosis using biological preparations.

Inactivated vaccine against necrobacteriosis of animals. It is an inactivated complex water-soluble antigen of necrosis bacteria, sorbed on an aluminum oxide hydrate gel. Used for preventive immunization against necrobacteriosis of clinically healthy animals. In cattle, the vaccine is administered subcutaneously in the lower third of the neck twice with an interval of 20-30 days at a dose: for adult animals - 5 cm3, for calves aged from three months to a year - 3 cm3. The injection site is treated with disinfectants

Rice. 18. processed and cleaned cattle hoof using a cutter

Rice. 19. Treatment of the hoof to form a hole

Emulsified inactivated vaccine against animal necrobacteriosis– is a stable emulsion from white-yellow to light gray. The vaccine is made from exo- and endotoxins of the vaccine

strain Fusobacterium necroforum, inactivated with formaldehyde and emulsified in an oil adjuvant. The vaccine is used for preventive and therapeutic purposes to immunize cattle. Before use, vials with the vaccine are heated to a temperature of 37-40°C in a water bath and shaken thoroughly. The vaccine is administered to animals intradermally using a BI-7M needleless injector twice with an interval of 4-6 weeks in a dose of 0.4 cm3 in the area of ​​the middle third of the neck in an area freed from hair or in the area

Rice. 20. Removing the horn of the claws from the side walls to the white line on the inner and outer sides

milk mirror in two points of 0.02 cm3 (0.2 cm3 + 0.2 cm3). After 6 months, these animals are revaccinated once. Young animals are immunized at 6-8 months of age. In animals, a swelling area of ​​3 to 8 cm may appear at the site of vaccine administration, which disappears on its own after 20-40 days. Pregnant animals are immunized no later than 1 month before calving. Meat and milk from immunized animals are used without restrictions. Tuberculinization of animals is carried out before immunization against necrobacteriosis or 1.5-2 months after it.

Nekovak- is a one-component drug, and the Nekovak-stimul vaccine consists of two components: the Nekovak vaccine component, component No. 2 - the immunostimulant glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide. Designed for active immunization of healthy and sick animals over one year of age against necrobacteriosis of the extremities for preventive and therapeutic purposes. The vaccine is administered to animals twice at an interval of 24 hours subcutaneously in the area of ​​the kneecap skin fold in a dose of 5.0 cm3 for the first injection of one limb, and for the second injection of the other, in compliance with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis. Vaccination must begin 1.0 -1.5 months before the expected start of a seasonal outbreak of the disease. Veterinary injection syringes or automatic syringes are used for vaccination. Immunity in animals is created within a day after the second vaccination and lasts 6 months.

Tools and equipment

Fixation machine, electric drive, hoof knife, hoof tongs, hoof scissors, grinding machine, gloves, overalls (Fig. 21).

Drugs for treatment and prevention: orthopedic prostheses, bandage, plaster, distilled water, glycerin, novocaine, hemonovocaine mixture, penicillin-novocaine solutions, furatsilin, rivanol, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, copper sulfate, formalin, chloramine, ichthyol, copper sulfate, tar, lapis, alcohol tincture iodine, antibiotics (penicillin, streptocide, tetracycline,

Rice. 21. Tools used for trimming hooves (1- grinder, 2- hoof tongs, 3-hoof knife, 4- electric drive, 5- gloves

ampicillin, etc.), Vishnevsky ointment, anecrodiox, Teomelin gel, nekrovet ointment, Avikol-N, Solka Hoof gel®, forticlin retard, thiocefur, terramycin, nitox 200, necrobacterin, monkpavit, etc.

Cow lameness is a guaranteed loss for agricultural enterprises. Milk yield decreases, additional costs have to be spent on treatment, or even the animal may be completely culled. The most common causes of lameness are hoof injuries, foot rot, laminitis and digital (hoof) dermatitis, which typically affect the animal's hind legs. Meanwhile, in many cases, a sick cow can be cured and its productivity restored.

Claw diseases are one of the most common health problems in cattle. It accounts for up to 20% of economic losses on farms. Another 45% of damage is reproductive dysfunction, 35% is mastitis.

Scientists have identified a direct relationship between problems with limbs and the incidence of mastitis. It is much more difficult for a lame cow to lie down comfortably and ensure normal blood supply to the udder. Due to difficulties with movement, the animal often lies down on the passage, contaminating the udder and thereby increasing the risk of mastitis.

Lameness also negatively affects reproductive function. Due to soreness in the limbs, animals stop showing signs of heat, so identifying a cow in heat is much more difficult. A lame cow comes to the feeding table less often, eats and drinks less, loses weight quickly, and poor nutrition disrupts metabolism. About 30% of heifers entering dairy farms are culled in early lactation due to claw failure and associated poor fertility.


Causes of hoof diseases in dairy cows

Globally, the increase in limb morbidity is associated with the consolidation of dairy farms and increased milk productivity. Thus, in large MTFs there is a higher risk of the introduction and spread of pathogenic microflora. A large livestock brings a lot of manure, and its untimely removal creates an alkaline environment in which the horn of the hoofs swells, loses strength and collapses.

Another common cause is untimely hoof trimming. Some cattle producers believe that only some cows need to have their hooves trimmed. Previously, when cows gave 10-12 liters of milk per day and grazed 5-6 months a year, this was enough. But many years of selection work to increase the milk productivity of cows led to the appearance of animals with a very fast metabolism. In such cows, the hoof horn grows much faster and needs regular trimming.

Keeping cattle on hard concrete surfaces all year round leads to uneven hoof wear, which requires artificial correction. Keeping on a soft surface (deep bedding, rubber coverings), on the contrary, reduces the rate of abrasion of the hoof horn. As a result, the hooves take on an irregular shape.

Microtrauma to the hooves of dairy cows is often caused by potholes in the concrete floor, steps and protruding reinforcement. Pathogenic microflora enter the damaged areas of the hooves, which quickly develop and lead to dermatitis, ulcers and other diseases.

In addition, the cause of limb diseases in cows can be rumen acidosis, prolonged standing of animals (cows should rest lying down for at least 10 hours a day) and a lack of vitamins, micro- and macroelements.


Prevention of limb diseases

The health of animals on a farm depends on many factors: the living conditions, the quality of feeding, and the condition of the farm buildings. Without feeding the cow properly and without providing her with comfortable conditions, it is pointless to expect an increase in productivity and good health of the animal. However, in the case of diseases of the limbs, it is important to follow certain preventive measures.

First of all, this is timely trimming of hooves, which should be carried out at least once a quarter. Cows with properly trimmed hoof horns are significantly less susceptible to lameness. In the case of an acute problem with the limbs of cattle, the affected areas of the hooves are treated in the machine at least twice during the course of treatment (5-10 days).

Regular hoof baths are a good therapeutic and preventive remedy. And when used together with high-quality and regular hoof trimming, lameness problems can be reduced to a minimum. The best special products for hoof baths today are considered to be quaternary ammonium compounds and preparations based on glutaraldehyde. These are strong disinfectants that are easy to dilute and effective at low temperatures.

  • Create conditions for proper rest for animals: on a dry straw bedding, in a dry stall. The air temperature in winter should not fall below 5 °C;
  • Manure removal - 2-3 times a day;
  • Regular exercise. Cow walks should be conducted in any weather except rain and snow. Walking yards should be regularly cleared of manure, and potholes in the floor should be promptly repaired;
  • Once a quarter it is necessary to disinfect rest areas and all passages;
  • Include sulfur-containing vitamins in the diet to strengthen the hoof horn;
  • The strength of the hooves is an inherited trait. Therefore, when selecting animals for broodstock, you should choose animals with hard and less moisture-intensive horns.

Hoof trimming equipment: advantages and capabilities

Today on the Belarusian market you can find various machines for trimming hooves. There are electrical and mechanical models. Both are welded from high-quality steel profiles and can be used by both farms and professional hoof trimmers.

Properly selected equipment not only allows you to securely restrain the animal, but also ensures the safety of hoof trimmers. The animal's hind leg is securely fixed with a special hook and chain. A head restraint with sliding flaps helps avoid suffocation or other injuries in timid animals. The machine is very convenient to use: removable wheels and a lever for lifting the frame make it easy to move the equipment and secure it to the floor. To ensure that all the necessary equipment for hoof trimming and veterinary medications are at hand, a removable tool tray is attached to the machine.

The advantage of electric machines is their versatility. In addition to hoof trimming, they can be used for gynecological examinations, blood sampling, ultrasound diagnostics, fortification and vaccination of the animal. Electric drives allow you to lift the chest and hind legs of the cow, and the front flaps securely fix the head. The support for fixing the front legs is adjustable in length, lift height and rotation angle.

Hoof trimming quickly and efficiently? Contact the professionals

Experts in the field of cattle orthopedics recommend creating orthopedic teams of two to three people, including one qualified doctor, at large dairy complexes. It is also necessary to organize a special place where the hoof trimming machine will be installed and the tools will be stored. However, what to do if there is no way to properly trim the hooves on the farm? How to do everything quickly, with a minimum amount of discomfort for the cows?

The best option is to contact specialized hoof trimming companies. Veterinarians who specialize in problems with limbs in cattle carry out professional functional trimming of the livestock, firstly, more efficiently, and secondly, quickly. In addition, field specialists also provide cow hoof trimming services: they can be ordered to almost any farm in Belarus and Russia.

Tatiana Troyanovskaya

An important part of cow care is hoof trimming, which includes trimming overgrown hoof horns. The health of the animal depends on the regularity and correctness of trimming - an overgrown horn can cause serious inflammation in the joints, injuries, and problems while walking.

There are several reasons why you need to do regular hoof trimming and trimming:

  • Improving the condition and health of the animal,
  • Increased milk yield,
  • Reduced risk of lameness,
  • Reducing the risk of other musculoskeletal diseases.

On average, the hoof horn grows by six to eight millimeters per month. During the summer months on pasture it wears off quite quickly so the shape of the hoof is not distorted. But in stable conditions, the regrown horn can greatly change the condition of the sole of the hoof. The regrown part may crack, which leads to damage to soft tissues. The danger of such damage is purulent inflammation. Another consequence of irregular trimming is sprain of the ligamentous apparatus, which is practically untreatable in cows.

If animals are kept in tethers, cleaning must be carried out at least once every three months.

If cattle are kept in pens or on pasture, clearing can be done every four months. Unscheduled trimming is carried out in case of a broken hoof horn, cracks or injuries.

Clearing process

Before starting work, the animal must be restrained. To do this, use a machine or stall. After this, the farrier assesses the condition of the cow’s legs. Particular attention is paid to the positioning of the limbs and the placement of the fingers to determine the presence of problems and patterns of deformation of the hoof horn. Trimming cows' hooves begins with cleaning the soles of dirt. Then the coarsened part of the horn is cut off from the clean sole using a special hoof knife. After this, the overgrown hoof walls are cut off with forceps. The regrown horn is usually more brittle and gray in color; when cut, it crumbles. Two people are required to handle cattle. One holds the leg, the second carries out trimming and processing of the hoof.

If during work a damaged area is discovered, or the pruning has led to a crack, it is immediately treated with iodine.

After the clearing is completed, you need to make sure that the work was done correctly. To do this, the leg is released, allowing the cow to rest on the trimmed hoof. With proper trimming, a conditionally drawn line along the axis of the finger bone will be straight. You can also use a special corner that will show how much of the regrown edge needs to be cut off. If everything is done correctly, all that remains is to level the sole and edges of the hoof horn using a rasp. It is necessary to file the hoof. This prevents the appearance and development of cracks and chips.

After trimming, the length of the front hoof wall should be from five to seven centimeters, and the back - no more than three. The hoof wall should be level and the hoof crevice should be clean and well defined.

A hoof with a curved horn and deformed with the help of pincers and a knife is first leveled along the convex part, which bends onto the sole. Next, the overgrown part of the sole and the opposite wall are cut off. It is impossible to straighten a deformed hoof in one trimming. Regular monthly cleaning will be required.

Cow legs tangled

In order to process the front legs, the head of the cow must be fixed. Usually it is tied with a halter or by the horns to a feeder. If trimming is being carried out for the first time, or the cow has a restless character, it must be laid on hay to treat its hind legs. To do this, the front and rear legs are tangled on one side. First the front rope is pulled, then the back rope. The tension should be strong, but not sharp, so that the cow lies down on her own. If the cow tolerates trimming well, it is enough for her to tangle her front legs.

When tangled, it is important to prevent the formation of abrasions and squeezing of the tendons.

Clearing machines

For greater safety of the animal and the farrier, the processing of cattle hooves is carried out in special machines. The hoof trimming machine is designed taking into account the anatomical features of the cow. The animal is fixed in it, but does not feel in a confined space. Very often, the machine for processing cattle hooves is equipped with electric drives and special lifting devices. Their task is to lift and fix the cow’s leg at the required height. This makes the farrier's job easier. On some models, the front legs can be secured using a rope and clamp. Other models provide mechanical fixation of all four limbs.

Pens for cattle can be stationary or mobile. The mobile is lighter and has removable wheels. It has a backlight and a built-in split. The frame is made of lightweight but durable profile pipes, and the floor is made of corrugated metal sheet. A stationary machine is most often made of pipes or metal profiles; stainless steel is also used. The floor may be concrete.

Clearing the stall

Trimming animals in stalls is more common on private farms. For work, the animal is fixed in the stall with an additional longitudinal crossbar. Using a halter, the animal is tied next to the feeder, limiting head movements. To secure the legs, ropes are used, which can be tied to the support posts of the stall, or fastened together. Working in the stall is impossible without an assistant who will hold the animal’s legs during processing.

An added benefit of a trimming stall is that it has a door at the front. This makes it easier to remove the cow after hoof treatment, since not all animals move backward well. Some farmers equip their stalls with a mechanical apparatus, such as is used in pens, to lift and secure the animal's legs. As well as additional lighting and electrical outlets, where, if necessary, the farrier can connect an electric rasp or any other tool.

Hoof diseases in cows are a serious problem in livestock farming. In the process of scientific research, it has been established that the main causes of lameness in cows are white line disease, sole ulcer, interdigital necrobacillosis (hoof rot) and digital dermatitis. White line disease and sole ulcer result from damage to the hoof due to disruption of the hoof horn, while digital dermatitis and necrobacillosis are infectious diseases of the epidermis and dermis. The solution to this problem can be regular trimming of cows' hooves.

Rules for keeping animals

A cow in a stall should rest at least 12–14 hours a day. Reducing the animal's rest time, especially in the precalving period, when the rate of growth of the hoof horn drops sharply in relation to the rate of its wear, can lead to hoof diseases and lameness. With little time spent in a stall, the sole of the hoof can become very thin, especially if the animal is kept loose on a concrete floor.

A few weeks after calving, the flexibility of the hooves increases, which increases the mobility of the navicular bone. If the animal is idle for a long time, there may be a risk of injury to the hoof tissue, which contributes to the appearance of sole ulcers.

Also, an unbalanced diet: low in fiber and high in starch can lead to the development of lameness from a sole ulcer.

Dry hooves are much harder than wet hooves, making wet hooves more susceptible to infection and damage. The causative agent of digital dermatitis is transmitted only in the case of prolonged wet hooves (up to 10 days). Therefore, it is very important to monitor the animal’s bedding and remove manure at least twice a day; it is also important to ventilate the barn well and add high-quality drainage to the bedding for the liquid fraction.

Also, great attention should be paid to the quality of the floor. Because if certain rules are not followed, various hoof diseases can occur in cows. It should be absolutely even, and slurry from manure should not accumulate on it. Under no circumstances should individual floor elements be unstable. Floors can be slatted or solid, depending on the manure removal system. Slotted floors are currently considered the easiest to manufacture and the cheapest. In such floors, manure enters the underground manure storage facility through the cracks, which saves the cost of removing manure and transporting it to storage facilities.

Hoof trimming

Regular hoof trimming of cows is very important. When the hoof horn grows, the weight of the cow moves to the sole from the toe part, because of this the stratum corneum grows and forms an influx on the sole of the hoof. As a result, pododermatitis develops and trauma to hoof tissue increases, which can lead to infection. If a cow's hooves are not trimmed for a long time, the ligamentous apparatus of the hooves is stretched and practically cannot be restored. These animals will be more susceptible to hoof diseases than others. It is advisable to trim hooves 2-3 times a year. For hoof trimming, there are special boxes in which the animal is placed and the leg is fixed. Pruning should only be done by a well-trained professional. Various tools are used to trim and trim hooves: hoof knives, hoof tongs, pliers, cleavers, rasp, hammer, chisels, chisels, electric cutters.

The trimming procedure is performed in a machine, the limbs are fixed with belts or soft ropes to the crossbars. To prevent a possible fall of the animal, it is secured in the pen with straps that are secured under the belly. If the animal is calm, then it is possible to trim the hooves not in a machine; I fix the front limbs with a rope, throwing it over the body. The hind limbs are fixed with special twists.

First, the hoof is cleaned of dirt, then the old coarsened horn is cut off with a cutter or hoof knife. Then the excess hoof wall is removed with forceps. These procedures should be carried out very carefully, since the thickness of the sole is only 2.5–5 mm. You only need to remove the old horn, which is crumbling, fragile, and gray in color.

After trimming, it is very important to check the shape of the hooves and the position of the animal's limbs. If everything is done correctly, then the axis of the digital bones (the conventional line running in the middle of the coffin, coronoid and fetlock bones) should be a straight line. Then the sole and edges of the hoof wall are leveled with a rasp.

Hoof baths

Infectious diseases that lead to lameness can be controlled using hoof baths, but not as a treatment, but for prevention and prevention. The disease of digital dermatitis in one individual should be considered as a potential danger of infecting others. Hoof baths can also serve as a treatment for the initial stages of infected hooves. Baths should be prepared using formaldehyde and copper sulfate.

Formalin is a water-based solution of formaldehyde. It is an effective remedy for the prevention of hoof infections in animals. The optimal concentration is 2–5%. Prepare a bath of 200–205 liters and change it after processing 200 heads. The use of formalin is effective only at ambient temperatures above 13 0 C. In addition, its use can be dangerous for personnel, since a strong unpleasant odor can cause allergic reactions with manifestations in the form of inflammation of the mucous membranes, redness of the skin, irritation of the respiratory tract, even asthmatic syndrome. In some countries, the use of formalin is generally prohibited.

Copper sulfate - copper sulfate is also an effective remedy for the prevention of hoof infections. It is recommended to make an aqueous solution with a vitriol concentration of 5–10%. However, diluting this powder in water is a rather labor-intensive process, and it tends to accumulate in the soil, which pollutes the environment. And when dirt and manure get into a bath with a solution, the antiseptic properties of copper sulfate are sharply reduced, which leads to frequent changes of the solution in the bath. Considering the cost of the drug and the frequent change of solution, the feasibility of such treatment is questionable.

Recently, scientific laboratories have been carefully studying various options for the prevention of hoof diseases. Not long ago, a new product was developed based on organic acid and ammonium compounds. It was called “four hooves”. It has a pronounced antiseptic effect and remains effective when the bath is dirty by 20%.

Rules for treating hooves in the bath

Video - Trimming hooves, trimming cattle hooves

Many goat breeders are not aware that the procedure for treating the animal's hooves is mandatory for all breeds and age groups. Hoof trimming of goats should be carried out regularly, otherwise excessive growth can be harmful to the health of the animal. With some skill and experience, goat owners carry out this procedure quite quickly and painlessly.

Why and when are hooves trimmed?

Goats' hooves grow throughout their lives. Therefore, animals need to trim off excess growths on their limbs. Wild representatives of small ruminants, moving on rocky surfaces, wear down their hooves on their own.

Overgrown hooves cause discomfort to animals. If the treatment is not carried out in time, the position of the limbs may be disrupted, which will lead to pain in the joints and the movement of the goat will be difficult.

As a rule, hooves grow during the winter, when animals move little and are kept on soft bedding. Accordingly, it is better to carry out the pruning procedure in spring and autumn. In summer, goats walk a lot and their hooves wear down naturally.

Goats, of course, do not really like this procedure, so the owner needs to prepare all the equipment in advance and get ready for the event.

How to properly trim hoofs

Every goat breeder, regardless of the number of animals, should always have tools for caring for the limbs of their pets. It is also important to organize in advance the place where the hooves will be trimmed and calmly prepare the animal for the procedure.

Selecting Tools

To properly trim hooves, you may need the following tools:

  • a special hook is used to clean the limbs from dirt;
  • hoof shears with a handle of medium length (a small handle will require a lot of effort, and a long handle will reduce the accuracy of trimming);
  • If you have a crooked hoof, a hoof knife will work well. When using this tool, special care is required, because if the animal jerks its limb, the owner may injure his hand;
  • a sharpened ordinary knife with a thin blade and a comfortable handle;
  • pruning shears (garden) are suitable for cutting off the outer growths of the hoof horn, however, they are not convenient for leveling the inside;
  • garden scissors are also used, but they are difficult to form a claw of the correct shape;
  • metal scissors (must be well sharpened);
  • Before and after this procedure, it is recommended to soak the hooves in a solution of copper sulfate; it is advisable to prepare the solution in advance.

Preparing the animal

Hoof trimming is stressful, especially for animals going through it for the first time, so the procedure needs to be done as quickly and painlessly as possible. In addition, the event cannot be performed on goats that are pregnant.

In some cases, sedatives are used for particularly violent and restless animals.

A calm goat is tied so that it stands on a tight leash. When trimming the front hooves, the limb is bent so that the sole is at the level of the sternum. When processing the hind hooves, the owner fixes the goat's body by clasping his legs and moves the animal's hind limb back.

You can also fix the goat in a standing position in a special machine.

If it is not possible to trim in this standing position, you will need a second person to help put the goat on its side or on its back and hold it in this position.

Pruning technique

The stages of hoof trimming for small ruminants include:

  • cleaning the hoof horn from dirt, manure, litter, etc.;
  • the hoof horn begins to be cut off from the toe and the outer side of the toes;
  • then the “heels” are trimmed at the same level as the toes;
  • level the hoof by cutting off the soft tissue on the toes and heels with a knife. Cut until the surface of the sole becomes flat and even. Both fingers should be aligned equally (in the same plane);
  • At the end of the operation, the limbs are soaked in a solution of copper sulfate, which will protect against infection.

If blood vessels were accidentally touched during pruning, the wounds should be treated with hydrogen peroxide and lubricated with iodine. Until healing, it is better to keep the animal isolated and regularly monitor the cleanliness of the bedding.