[Malc]

Has anyone had to trim a fully grown pig's trotters before. Our oldest sow's feet have grown too long and need attention. At the age of six, she is less active than the other sows and has been on soft ground for several months. She is reasonably easy to work with, but she is very big and takes no nonsense. How the hell am I going to approach this one?

[Rosemary]

With a video camera, please

[Daisys Mum]

[quote author=Rosemary l
With a video camera, please)

and a bucket of feed, hard hat, steeltoe boots and leather gloves.

[dixie]

Yes we had to do our sow last year, will she lie down for a belly rub?
Ours does, and I did try with sheep foot trimmers and garden secateurs but it was too hard for me, I got the farrier to call in and do them! I got her to lie down and rubbed her belly while the farrier trimmed them with long handled snipper things! (will try to remember what they're called!!) he'd almost finished when the first piglet arrived! You can imagine what he said!!  'I'm a farrier, I shoe horses, its Friday night I'm trimming a pigs feet while she's giving birth'!!

[Hilarysmum]

Oh thats a lovely story for a miserable Monday, thanks 

[Farmer]

Had a similar problem...tried unsuccessfully several times and in the end got the Vet in to sedate her...not cheap, but worth it... Good luck anyway

farmer, 

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

Had one of our very large Sows feet done by the vet in the back of a trailer !

Rope round the leg, pull the leg up to beside the belly and the vet snipped away with hoof trimmers (very heavy duty ones) while I tried to hold the leg in place.

Sedation is possible, but expensive, and can cause breathing problems.

Good Luck!

Gareth
www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk