One of our August feature stories focuses on the knowledge of Shane Meier of Texas, and what he says is important to know about getting your show string's feet trimmed. Here's a little excerpt.
SC: What are some of the most common problems you see and help people correct when you trim their cattle’s feet?
SHANE: From a structural standpoint, problems with “toeing out” are quite common. Another frequent structural issue is cattle that tend to roll on their outside pasterns and “pop” on their ankles. For many of these situations, we are able to do corrective hoof trimming procedures to help improve the problems. Other common problems include hairy heel wart, hoof rot, cracked hooves and abscesses, all of which can cause significant lameness if left untreated.
SC: How often should exhibitors expect to get hooves trimmed and what are the factors deciding when it’s time to get it done?
SHANE: A good rule of thumb is to trim hooves every six to eight weeks. Some tend to grow faster and will need trimming more often. Others, with slow-growing hooves, can go longer. A good indicator of when it’s time to trim hooves is if you notice the hooves wearing unevenly, cracking or the toes starting to grow at different lengths.
SC: Are there things you wish more people understood about taking care of cattle’s feet and legs?
SHANE: What I wish more people understood was the importance of proper hoof care. The best advice I can offer is: every time you wash your cattle, hose out their feet and toes really well. The cleaner your cattle’s feet, the healthier they are. Try your best to keep the areas they walk and stand in frequently (water troughs, wash areas, etc.), free of mud. The more time that cattle have to stand in mud, the more likely they are to experience hoof rot and hairy heel wart.
Look for the full story online later today and in the print magazine coming to your mailbox or state fair in the next week!