Feet

[Cows 'n grass]

I thought I'd start a general thread for all issues to do with feet

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Even though I've done all the trimming on this farm for a decade and I've been on a couple of foot trimming courses it's still a subject I feel quite an ignorant about

I spent this morning picking up feet and had a couple I wasn't sure about.

Both these two had a patch on the right hand claw (as you look at it) that had a bit of give under them, not really soft but not rock hard. The pale spot on top photo is actually a lot more obvious in the photo than it was in real life and the bottom photo the softer patch was under the bruised bit. There were no obvious breaks or puncture wounds anywhere on the sole.

Would you have carried on digging?

I didn't but the last cow I looked at today was a similar case a couple of weeks ago. She just had a slightly soft bruised area last time but today there was an obvious hole and I had to take off a big chunk of sole because there appeared to be an overgrown ulcer underneath.

 

[Headless chicken]

The bottom pic looks like an ulcer coming through in the middle there. Could just be a little brusing.

I struggle with feet sometimes as well and to lift twice as apposed to over trim first time. Latley I seem to be getting it wrong too often when I'm putting the models in and going too deep. Dam annoying as well

 

[buffalo_soldier]

My 2p.
2nd pic I think I would explore further.
Both cows I would probably block.
Would model further.

Got a feeling @bovine will be all over this thread.

 

[Splitpin]

We're the two pics lame or just routine trimming

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Both lame, but not very.

 

[bigw]

Both look like bruising and would lead to ulcers I think, but i'm no expert. We use a professional trimmer to do the herd once a year and it is money very well spent.

 

[bovine]

Do you consider those feet finished, or was this a work in progress?

 

[DaveGrohl]

My two pennies worth: second one looks like the outside claw needed trimming before now to get the weight back onto the inside claw. Too much pressure on the outside claw has led to bruising and an ulcer is just about starting to form. Best plan might be to block the inside and shave a little bit more off the outside claw, hopefully without exposing the possible ulcer. A couple of weeks with weight off that claw might be enough to stop the ulcer in its tracks. Difficult to gauge without feeling how much pressure it can take. If its soft then defo block.

The top one looks not too bad.

 

[Beef farmer]

Did you change/modify your crush @Cows 'n grass after nearly amputating your finger in the summer?

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Did you change/modify your crush @Cows 'n grass after nearly amputating your finger in the summer?

No not yet. I did order a couple of 6 foot gates yesterday. At the moment its at the end of a fixed race and there are a couple of posts that get in the way, the plan is to move it forward about 4 feet so that the new 6 foot gates will come around either side to get a cow in but then swing right back out of the way once she's in there.

The finger's still not recovered it only bends about half as far as the others and has no strength. Probably should have seen a doctor for that one, reckon I must have nicked a tendon!

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Do you consider those feet finished, or was this a work in progress?

Might have done a bit more but not a lot. I probably do always trim on the cautious side and I spend a lot of time using the flat of the knife handle to check the sole is level both ways. I always try to get it level while taking off as little as possible off the heel.

I realise the second pic looks like the inner claw is trimmed like a clog but that wasn't the case.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Both those pics I would have taken a lot more off the outside claw and hardly touched the inside one. I also would have modelled the inside of both claws more.
The bottom pic looks like bruising, I would of kept going to the bruising stopped, transferring the weight to the inside claw more

 

[Splitpin]

With the Jerseys, Do you reckon to pick them up once a year or just when there's a problem

 

[jerseycowsman]

With the Jerseys, Do you reckon to pick them up once a year or just when there's a problem

Used to just do it when there was a problem, but now we have started doing all 3rd Calvers and above at drying off in January. Now we get hardly any lameness until we get wet weather in August September time

 

[bovine]

Might have done a bit more but not a lot. I probably do always trim on the cautious side and I spend a lot of time using the flat of the knife handle to check the sole is level both ways. I always try to get it level while taking off as little as possible off the heel.

I realise the second pic looks like the inner claw is trimmed like a clog but that wasn't the case.

You need to do quite a bit more modelling out at the solar ulcer site.

Hard to see from the bottom picture - but one claw looks longer.

You need to clean up all the erosion from the slurry heel at the back of the foot - especially on the 2nd foot.

 

[Gulli]

Second one needs more taken off to get the weight on the inside claw and off the bruise, or it will turn into an ulcer. Hard to tell from the photo how much you have to work with but you shouldn't need to block it if you model it some more.

Sharpen your knife

 

[jimmer]

i find lame jerseys or x breeds are better off having a block put on sooner rather than later , their hard feet hide a multitude of other issues under the surface

 

[Blue.]

Excellent presentation here.

I've trimmed as he recommends for a few years now.

Shame I don't do them enough,must try harder!

 

[DaveGrohl]

Can't see what link you put on there Eulb, ipad's obv not compatible.