Sheep feet query?

[steveR]

I was giving "Herself" a hand yesterday tidying up the feet on her small flock of ewes and it was quite noticeable that several had what Janice described as being "soft and chalky" on the bed/sole of the hoof. Usual bit of trimming work on the outside hoof...

Any ideas on the cause of the softening of the sole I can pass on...?

 

[GreenerGrass]

Can pass on that you shouldn't be trimming any of them

 

[Al R]

Footvax and formalin. Don’t trim.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Cull

 

[Tim W]

Footvax and formalin. Don’t trim.

NO!!!!!

Footrot hasn't been mentioned, just a bit of overgrown and sort hoof---vaccine would be a waste (i hate the casual use of footvac ---why does no one else see it as a failure in management?)
Cause of soft sole ? Diet,minerals, soft ground conditions ??

 

[steveR]

Cull

I am up against some resistance on this... Agree totally!

 

[steveR]

Footvax and formalin. Don’t trim.

No footrot. Wondering if a footbath would help though...

 

[steveR]

NO!!!!!

Footrot hasn't been mentioned, just a bit of overgrown and sort hoof---vaccine would be a waste (i hate the casual use of footvac ---why does no one else see it as a failure in management?)
Cause of soft sole ? Diet,minerals, soft ground conditions ??

Ground is pretty decent, decent grass, but wondered if I need to grab some palatable mineral!

 

[steveR]

Can pass on that you shouldn't be trimming any of them

Only just trimming overgrown side growth. No major surgery... ;-) Vets recommended Alamycin LA two years ago when we did have a few footrot issues, cleared up nicely.

 

[Gulli]

Mine get the same thing quite often, assumed it was was just from the hoof getting damp and moisture staying there, never caused any issues though so I've never worried about it

 

[steveR]

Mine get the same thing quite often, assumed it was was just from the hoof getting damp and moisture staying there, never caused any issues though so I've never worried about it

We were uncertain if this was going to lead to issues, having not seen it before...