Hidden Risks of Over-Trimming 

The dairy industry has improved by leaps and bounds when it comes to hoof health. There was a time when lameness issues were an afterthought and hoof health plans, nutrition and footbaths were considered extra expenses. Now we know that dairy cow hoof health is directly tied to profitability and performance. During my time as a hoof trimmer, all of the farms I visited implemented some sort of hoof management program ranging from scheduled trims to specially-formulated nutrition and footbaths. 

As an industry, we have fully recognized and embraced the importance of hoof health – which leads me to ask a question: Why aren’t we making more progress on lowering lameness rates? 

Evolving Hoof Trimming Strategies

Considering all the effort dairies are devoting to hoof health, why does hoof health appear to not be improving? Lameness rates have become stagnant over the last two decades and the percentage of lameness on dairies is about 24% worldwide. While consulting on-farm regarding hoof problems and observing these concerning statistics, I began to question if hoof management methods needed to change. 

Hoof trimming strategies, like anything else on the dairy, need to evolve alongside farms. Dairies have bigger herds, bigger barns with farther walking distances and more opportunity for wear and tear on the hooves. This means that, oftentimes, we are over-trimming and exposing healthy cows to potential problems. Cows today need more hoof left on the sole and should have less trimmed off their toes when the claws measure less than 3 inches. Over-trimming leads to trauma and inflammation inside the claw – this trauma and inflammation account for almost all non-infectious claw lesions. 

Over-trimming and shortening the interval between maintenance trims may be appealing strategies. They seem like ways to save time and prevent issues. In reality, it is costing dairies more money by stagnating lameness rates and exposing cows to new hoof problems – which also lead to a drop in productivity. 

Hoof Trimming Strategies for Dairy Cow Hoof Health

What is the solution? Identify instances of over-trimming. To work, this must be a team effort on the dairy. Producers, herd managers, nutritionists, milkers, etc. all need to be able to recognize over-trimming and point it out when it occurs. Training the team on dairy cow hoof health and best practices allows everyone to have confidence in identifying issues and mistakes. 

As an industry, we need to support contract trimmers and help them evolve their skill set. When we learn new things about cow health and nutrition, we readily support veterinarians and nutritionists to change their approaches. Hoof trimming strategies worked better 20 years ago because dairies were different. It’s time we empower hoof trimmers to evolve with the changes. Part of that is understanding what a proper trim looks like. 

Trimming too much off the hoof is an easy thing to do, so over-trimming happens frequently. To prevent this, hoof trimmers, producers and herd managers should remember these rules: 

• An all-white hoof does not indicate a proper trim 

• Claws should not measure less than 3 inches 

• If a claw does measure less than 3 inches, less should be trimmed off the toes 

• As farm size increases, more hoof should be left on the sole to account for longer walks to the parlor   

Evaluate and Improve Hoof Trims

Hoof trimming and cow requirements are different than they used to be. Making a group effort across the dairy to revisit hoof health strategies and understand what cows require can help evolve trimming techniques. The amount left on the hoof is just as important, if not more so, than what is trimmed off the hoof. A working relationship between the farm team and hoof trimmer can help identify and course-correct these issues. 

Lameness is not always a nutrition or management issue, and revisiting your hoof trimming strategies can quickly uncover if over-trimming is occurring.  

   

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