Feet

[lavacaw]

I remember at some point reading about someone having problems with feet/hooves but I cannot find the post. I have a yearling heifer that has hooves growing considerably longer than any of my other cows have. Is this a potential problem and what needs to be done about it, if anything? Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
wanda

[cddexter]

Hi Wanda. A poor foot angle creates 'flat' feet, which in turn causes the hoof to grow longer because it doesn't get worn down properly.

Your best bet is to have someone show you so you can trim the feet yourself, or hire a mobile trimmer guy (or local dairy farmer) who will come to your farm and trim the feet for you.

It's pretty common in some bloodlines. The fix is to find a really nice bull with all the traits you like, PLUS having really good feet, and hope for a heifer who inherits his feet, to replace the cow sometime down the road.

Poor foot angle can also be caused by an animal being sickle hocked, and again the fix is to breed a replacement with better legs. Sometimes the foot angle can be helped with regular trimming, both for feet themselves and for the sickle hocked type.

cheers, c.

[LizMO]

I also have a question regarding trimming cows feet.
Have any of you used the hoof trimmer by Milcare, that trims hooves while the animals hoof is standing on the ground? I have a squeeze chute if needed.
LizMo