[andywalt]

could any one comment please and tell me how often on average they trim their sheeps hoofs, would it be monthly or every six weeks or would it be done when required? i would imagine different breeds have different levels of weakness or growth, could anyone let me know how they manage please?

andy

[Fleecewife]

There are various things which affect how often sheep need their hooves trimmed. Certain breeds do tend to have 'good' feet - black hoof is a bit harder than white.  If the ground is rocky or there is some hard standing then the hooves are worn down whereas on grass alone (which we have) they can need to be trimmed more frequently.  Persistant wet weather is bad for feet as it keeps them soft and allows for overgrowth with inclusions of mud.  Long wet grass tends to cut between the toes and can lead to the development of sores.  If some stock have foot rot already then it will spread to the rest of the flock, so the feet will need to be treated more frequently, and any with rot isolated.  Some individuals inherit bad feet, or a tendency to bad feet.
So there is no set frequency for trimming feet as it depends on your individual circumstances.  We check all our sheeps feet whenever we have a big gather or at shearing, but we also keep a close eye on them all and catch and treat any with a limp as soon as it appears.

[andywalt]

Thanks Fleecewife

really good to hear how you manage it, thanks very much

andy

[humphreymctush]

Routine trimming for the sake of it definately causes more problems than it solves. I almost never trim my sheeps feet. Footrot can cause over growth but trimming is not a cure for this, to kill the footrot bacteria use Zinc Sulphate foot bath (sold under the brand name Golden Hoof)

[Bright Raven]

Golden Hoof works really well however I had a real fright first time I used it. One of my girls who had been limping before treatment started to walk around on her knees for four or five hours after the treatment.  The rest of the group were fine. I was really concerned that this older ewe must have been in pain and did not know what to do apart from watch and wait. Because she was not bleating I just kept my distance and worried about her. The next day she was right as rain and walking without the limp. Five weeks later the same ewe is limping again so I will treat her again tomorrow and see what happens. I seem to be hoof trimming every eight weeks or so. We are on long-ish grass and I think that it is defiantly aggravating the flock's feet. I am a novice sheep keeper so I shall follow this thread with interest.

[andywalt]

thats intersting bright raven, so do you think that the long grass is catching between the hoofs and causing soars? or is it the over growing of the hoof itself?

[andywalt]

how do you apply golden hoof plus? does it come in liquid form or do you have to dilute it? Do you actually stand them in a tray? or do you brush it on into the crack? how many sheep can you treat from one bag?


thanks   andy

[Bright Raven]

I think the long grass is catching between the cleat,-  if that is the right technical term for in-between the hoofs, and that my older ewe is particularly sensitive in that area. I also think that she was stinging from the Golden Hoof mix and that is why she was on her knees. One of my gloves ripped while i was bathing the sheep and the solution sploshed into the cuts on my hand. It stung like bu**ery, so I expect that she was feeling just the same. It was interesting, all of the very ingrained dirt on the cracks of my fingers cleaned away along with my sun tan and the stains from the blue terramycin spray on my nails. And that was the result of holding her hoof for just two minutes in the solution!

The Golden Hoof mixes up with cold water 10% powder to water solution. I put mine in a bucket and hold the sheep in (with help from OH)- front feet for two mins then back feet for two. A friend suggested using an old baked bean can for single hoof treatment. The good thing is that it will keep if you bottle it up to use it again.

[andywalt]

thats really helpful, many thanks

[Cinderhills]

We probably trim our Ryelands about 3 times a year.  For some reason I do notice that some hoofs grow quicker on certain sheep of ours than others.  I check the sheep regularly so can spot a limp and deal with it quickly if necessary.  Luckily only had one case of foot rot ever.  Good to know about Golden Hoof for future though.

[andywalt]

thanks for all your comments and replies, its all been very helpful

[humphreymctush]

scald, ie raw skin between the cloves is caused by a bacterial infection, not just long grass. It too is cured almost instanly by Zinc sulphate. The best way to treat sheeps feet is with a foot bath in a race with a gate at each end. I dont understand why some sheep keepers dont think a race is essential to sheep handling. I am suprised that zinc sulphate has been thought to make sheeps feet sore. I would agree that a formalin footbath can do but I changed to zinc sulphate ten years ago and have iradicated footrot and scald from my land. Any bought in sheep are footbathed before I turn them out so I have never reintroduesd it either. I virtually never trim my sheeps feet and none have been lame for years.

[andywalt]

thats great really good to know

fantastic