The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: tommytink on August 04, 2019, 10:37:24 pm
-
Has anyone used Golden Hoof to help strengthen hooves? Know you can use for footrot/scald but looking for something to help toughen up their tootsies. A friend has used it and says it’s good. I think they had some shelly hoof and I think we have the same sort of issue. I was just going to buy some Rockies zinc licks but now looking at this. Is putting them through a standard foot bath a nightmare? Note they’re meant to stand in it for two mins - can’t imagine any sheep being massively happy doing that!!
-
Do you already put Himalayan salt licks out for them?
-
They have a multi-mineral lick which includes zinc. No Himalayan salt. As the weather starts to get wetter I’m thinking more about their feet getting soft, especially because of our terrain and the fact the grass is always quite long.
-
We now keep the Himalayan rock salt in all fields for all stock at all times. We do add other licks from time to time, but need them a lot less now the rock salt is always available. And the sheep’s feet are much better, no question about it.
-
We buy Himalayan rock salt from our local Agri merchant for a 10kg sack for about £7. They all sell it. There are usually 2-3 big lumps in a sack, so we often split the lumps down a bit for sheep.
You just need a suitable container with drain holes. We drill holes in an old lick tub and put that inside an old tyre for stability. One lump that fits the tub will last several months - depending of course on how many sheep you are talking :)
-
Has anyone used Golden Hoof to help strengthen hooves?
Golden hoof is just zinc sulphate plus a surfactant (i.e. fairy liquid ish), so I don't see how it would help to harden hooves. What am I missing? ???
-
Has anyone used Golden Hoof to help strengthen hooves? Know you can use for footrot/scald but looking for something to help toughen up their tootsies. A friend has used it and says it’s good. I think they had some shelly hoof and I think we have the same sort of issue. I was just going to buy some Rockies zinc licks but now looking at this. Is putting them through a standard foot bath a nightmare? Note they’re meant to stand in it for two mins - can’t imagine any sheep being massively happy doing that!!
Same boat as you so can’t answer how good ,but I can answer how to do it.
I did it yesterday
I bought a foot bath Matt (£100)and set hurdles up tight to the sides,I do have two small gates for each end to run them through ,but you could just use two hurdles or wood pallets one to let them in one to keep them in,and let them out when ready
They just stood in it no problem, I also clicked them at same time they were stood in there.
Whilst very friendly sheep they hate being held(Kerry hills)I did try wellington boot trick first, first hoof no problem second hoof was like fighting mike Tyson so I gave up and did the above
Was so much easier,one of mine has Shelly hoof I am doing more as trying to prevent future episodes I also bought the zinc salt licks a few weeks ago,I have some general ones already set up
Th Matt Worked a treat for keeping them still and soaking there feet for the required time which can be up to 30 mins if treating scald
-
Well we got the Golden Hoof Plus and a good job as sadly our new girls feet are in a mess :(
Separation of the inner and outer horn (so shelly hoof?), plus looked white between their toes so think scald as well. One had a crack vertically and just generally not looking great.
We turned the girls over, trimmed back loose horn (but not too much) and then stood them in the footbath for an average of a couple of minutes. It is a walkthrough bath. We imagined two of them standing nicely in it at at time which obviously didn’t work out. Then onto hard standing. Could feel the difference straight away - the feet were a lot harder. Also sprayed a couple up with blie spray that looked particularly sore. Will get them back in a week’s time to see how they are and probably retreat. Just hope we can sort them out.
-
Sally -what's special about the himalayan rock salt? What's in it that helps their feet.I've always put out the zinc rockies and the sheep, especially the shetlands scrape at it with their teeth if they'd run out for a bit.
-
Well we got the Golden Hoof Plus and a good job as sadly our new girls feet are in a mess :(
Separation of the inner and outer horn (so shelly hoof?), plus looked white between their toes so think scald as well. One had a crack vertically and just generally not looking great.
We turned the girls over, trimmed back loose horn (but not too much) and then stood them in the footbath for an average of a couple of minutes. It is a walkthrough bath. We imagined two of them standing nicely in it at at time which obviously didn’t work out. Then onto hard standing. Could feel the difference straight away - the feet were a lot harder. Also sprayed a couple up with blie spray that looked particularly sore. Will get them back in a week’s time to see how they are and probably retreat. Just hope we can sort them out.
If they have scald they will be lame (you didn’t say if they are lame or not). The bacteria that causes scald also progresses on to foot rot and lives in the soil, so you need to move them to fresh pasture that’s not had sheep on for at least 2 weeks or they will just reinfect themselves. But if they aren’t lame it’s not likely to be scald as it makes their feet very sore.
-
Sally -what's special about the himalayan rock salt? What's in it that helps their feet.I've always put out the zinc rockies and the sheep, especially the shetlands scrape at it with their teeth if they'd run out for a bit.
Most unlike me, I don’t know what’s in it but I do see results. It’s inexpensive, easy to get, easy to use, they need salt anyway, so why wouldn’t you?
-
Well we got the Golden Hoof Plus and a good job as sadly our new girls feet are in a mess :(
Separation of the inner and outer horn (so shelly hoof?), plus looked white between their toes so think scald as well. One had a crack vertically and just generally not looking great.
We turned the girls over, trimmed back loose horn (but not too much) and then stood them in the footbath for an average of a couple of minutes. It is a walkthrough bath. We imagined two of them standing nicely in it at at time which obviously didn’t work out. Then onto hard standing. Could feel the difference straight away - the feet were a lot harder. Also sprayed a couple up with blie spray that looked particularly sore. Will get them back in a week’s time to see how they are and probably retreat. Just hope we can sort them out.
If they have scald they will be lame (you didn’t say if they are lame or not). The bacteria that causes scald also progresses on to foot rot and lives in the soil, so you need to move them to fresh pasture that’s not had sheep on for at least 2 weeks or they will just reinfect themselves. But if they aren’t lame it’s not likely to be scald as it makes their feet very sore.
Sorry. A couple have intermittently had a hobble that then disappeared. When we see a limp we wait and see whether it goes or not incase it’s something caught between toes or pulled a muscle or something.
I’m assuming scald because it was white inbetween the toes. But you’re saying they’d have been permanently lame if it was scald?
They’ve gone onto a fresh field but still with the gate open to their old field as this has more shelter.
-
Sally -what's special about the himalayan rock salt? What's in it that helps their feet.I've always put out the zinc rockies and the sheep, especially the shetlands scrape at it with their teeth if they'd run out for a bit.
Most unlike me, I don’t know what’s in it but I do see results. It’s inexpensive, easy to get, easy to use, they need salt anyway, so why wouldn’t you?
Thank you for an honest answer, I'll take your word for it and get some next time I'm at the feed store.I expect the sheep will tell me which they need / prefer if given the choice.
-
Sorry. A couple have intermittently had a hobble that then disappeared. When we see a limp we wait and see whether it goes or not incase it’s something caught between toes or pulled a muscle or something.
I’m assuming scald because it was white inbetween the toes. But you’re saying they’d have been permanently lame if it was scald?
They’ve gone onto a fresh field but still with the gate open to their old field as this has more shelter.
Scald is a wet white between the cleats - if you’ve ever had athlete’s foot, it’s just like that is when it starts. Aka “welly foot” ;).
White that’s dry (and not flaky) is not a problem.
And yes, they do usually limp with scald. But if they have scald in all feet, they may not show a limp - but should show a distinct reticence to walk, and may be seen grazing lying down. (Grazing kneeling or lying down is always an indication of lameness.)
-
Well we got the Golden Hoof Plus and a good job as sadly our new girls feet are in a mess :(
Separation of the inner and outer horn (so shelly hoof?), plus looked white between their toes so think scald as well. One had a crack vertically and just generally not looking great.
We turned the girls over, trimmed back loose horn (but not too much) and then stood them in the footbath for an average of a couple of minutes. It is a walkthrough bath. We imagined two of them standing nicely in it at at time which obviously didn’t work out. Then onto hard standing. Could feel the difference straight away - the feet were a lot harder. Also sprayed a couple up with blie spray that looked particularly sore. Will get them back in a week’s time to see how they are and probably retreat. Just hope we can sort them out.
If they have scald they will be lame (you didn’t say if they are lame or not). The bacteria that causes scald also progresses on to foot rot and lives in the soil, so you need to move them to fresh pasture that’s not had sheep on for at least 2 weeks or they will just reinfect themselves. But if they aren’t lame it’s not likely to be scald as it makes their feet very sore.
Sorry. A couple have intermittently had a hobble that then disappeared. When we see a limp we wait and see whether it goes or not incase it’s something caught between toes or pulled a muscle or something.
I’m assuming scald because it was white inbetween the toes. But you’re saying they’d have been permanently lame if it was scald?
They’ve gone onto a fresh field but still with the gate open to their old field as this has more shelter.
They won’t be permanently lame and will get better once treated. But scald can be very sore. I normally give them 24 hours to see if the lameness goes and if not will catch and investigate. If it is really scald then rotate the pasture and rest it for a couple of weeks- I had an outbreak in winter a couple of years ago and each time I treated the ewes I moved to a new paddock. Pain in the backside electric fencing in winter but it did the trick.
-
My Herdwicks had a lot of foot problems when I first had them, mostly shelly hoof, but since using Golden Hoof they have been much better. I put them all through a foot bath once a year and I definitely reckon it hardens up their feet. Also if one has a bit of a limp I hold the offending foot in a small bucket of Golden Hoof for three minutes and that almost invariably cures the problem within 24 hours or so. I think they know now that it is in their interest to stand still while I am dunking the foot, but it does seem to kick in after about 30 seconds and they have a bit of a wriggle to test my strength v theirs. Often just getting the foot really well soaked also makes it easier to see what's causing the problem or to clean out under the hoof wall. I would definitely recommend G Hoof - great stuff!
-
I would quote you Twizzel but it’d take a whole page! Understand they won’t be permanently lame if they have scald, i.e. after treatment would make them better. What I meant to question was were you saying that if they had scald they would permanently be lame (prior to treatment which should sort it out) as opposed to looking lame one day and improving the next. I think this is what you were telling me!
I got my Badger Faces in for inspection and foot bathing this week. Their feet were a lot better, although still to varying degrees. Obviously they’re a lot lighter which I guess helps. Getting the Radnors in again next week for a check up. Hope we can get them sorted and then keep up a good foot regime so they can stay and be comfortable as they’re such sweet girls!
-
I started using Himalayan rock salt too. We don't have any lameness but after winter a lot seemed to have cracked hooves or shelly hoof.
I haven't checked their hooves properly since but they do seem in better nick so hopefully there will be better on the next check!
-
I’ve now got the zinc Rockies and the holders - just got to find the best place to put them up now! Hope it makes a difference. We’re doing another inspection this week so will see how they’re getting on.