Dairy Cow Hoof Trimming Guide

For more information, download our full Dairy Hoof Trimming Guide.

Proper functional and therapeutic hoof trimming in dairy cattle can reduce and help prevent lameness in dairy cows and can also improve productivity and overall animal wellness. Research shows that cows with healthy, pain-free hooves stay in the herd longer, have higher milk production and generate more long-term profit.

The steps in this guide should only be done by properly trained personnel, so choose a highly-skilled hoof trimmer.

The Five-Step Dutch Hoof Trimming Method

For more information on dairy hoof trimming, including the equipment you’ll need, common causes of infectious lesions and how to identify the five most common claw lesions, download our Dairy Hoof Trimming Guide or watch our Dairy Hoof Trimming Video.

Written by:

Dr. Daryl Kleinschmit

Dr. Kleinschmit earned his doctoral degree in animal science from South Dakota State University. He conducts research and provides dairy technical services to customers globally.