Sheep and Goat Hoof Trimming: A Guide for Farmers

Hoof trimming is a critical aspect of sheep and goat care and has a direct impact on the health, welfare and productivity. Generally hoof trimming prevents lameness, infections and mobility issues. Ensuring your flock can graze, breed, and produce effectively.

We’ll cover why hoof trimming is important, what might happen if you don’t do it, how to plan for it, how often it should be done, and the right equipment for hoof trimming.

Why You Should Perform Hoof Trimming

Hoof trimming is necessary to maintain the overall health and mobility of your sheep and goats. Overgrown hooves can cause uneven weight distribution, leading to discomfort and lameness. Proper hoof care prevents various hoof-related diseases. Allowing your animals to move freely and graze efficiently. Here are some reasons why regular hoof trimming is essential:

Prevents Lameness: Hooves that are overgrown cause animals to walk abnormally. Leading to lameness. This might limit mobility and makes it difficult for the animals to graze. In addition, it might increase their stress level.
Risk Reduction of Footrot: Untrimmed hooves are more susceptible to infections like footrot. Infections are often caused by bacteria that thrive in damp and dirty conditions. Proper trimming keeps hooves clean and healthy. Reducing the risk of such infections.
Improves Overall Animal Health: Healthy hooves contribute to flexible grazing and, hence, better weight gain.
Prevents Structural Issues: Regular trimming prevents abnormal growth patterns that can permanently damage the animal’s foot structure. Leading to long-term health problems that can be difficult to reverse.

What Happens When You Don’t Perform Hoof Trimming

Neglecting hoof trimming can have serious consequences for the health and productivity of your sheep and goats:

Lameness and Pain: Overgrown hooves cause animals to place their weight unevenly on their feet. Leading to joint and muscle strain, pain, and lameness. This significantly affects their ability to graze and move, leading to reduced weight gain and productivity.
Hoof Diseases: Common diseases like foot rot thrive in untrimmed hooves. These diseases cause pain, inflammation, and lameness. In severe cases, the animal may not be able to walk. Resulting in costly vet care and reducing the overall efficiency of your farm.
Difficulty Grazing and Reduced Milk Production: Animals suffering from hoof pain or infection will graze less. And produce less milk or wool, directly impacting your farm’s output. Poor mobility also affects their ability to reach food and water sources.
Long-Term Health Problems: Neglected hooves can lead to irreversible structural damage, including permanent deformation of the hooves and legs. This can make the animal unfit for breeding, leading to potential culling from the herd.

Planning Hoof Trimming

Proper planning is key to effective hoof trimming. Here’s how to organise it for your farm:

Choose the Right Period: Hoof trimming is best done in dry weather. Wet conditions soften the hooves, making them harder to trim. Most farmers schedule hoof trimming sessions in spring or fall when weather conditions are more moderate.
Regular Hoof Inspection: Regular hoof inspection is essential for planning trimming sessions. Check for overgrowth, cracks, signs of infection, or abnormal hoof shapes. If you notice any issues, schedule a trimming session immediately.
Organise the Flock: Hoof trimming can be time-consuming, especially for larger herds. Organise your flock into manageable groups, and ensure you have enough time and people to handle them effectively. It’s important to minimise stress on the animals during the process, so move them calmly and use proper handling techniques.
Prioritise Health and Safety: Always ensure that both the animals and the people handling them are safe during the trimming process. Sheep and goats should be restrained gently but securely, and all equipment should be ready and clean to avoid injuries or infections.

How to Perform Sheep Hoof Trimming

There are multiple ways to perform sheep hoof trimming. We’ll show you the most commonly used methods for hoof trimming.

Restraining the Animals

When your flock is not too big this is one of the most common methods for hoof trimming. Either put the animal in a big tire and start trimming their hooves. Or choose to restrain the animals with a head clamp.

This method is exhaustive and might cause back pain. We hear this too much… Therefore, investing in proper equipment for hoof trimming is highly recommended.

Turnover crates

There are multiple hoof trimming crates available. These crates squeeze the animals and you can turn them so you have good access to their feet. Furthermore, it causes less stress for the animals compared to restraining the animals. Why? Because they feel safe and more comfortable when they are squeezed.

So, we always highly recommend to perform hoof trimming with a turnover crate. Less stressful for the trimmer and animal.

How Often Should You Perform Hoof Trimming

The frequency of hoof trimming depends on several factors, including breed, environment, and grazing conditions. As a general guideline:

Sheep: Hoof trimming for sheep should be done two to three times a year, though this can vary based on the type of terrain they are grazing on. Sheep that graze on rocky, uneven ground may naturally wear down their hooves more and require less trimming.
Goats: Goat hooves often grow faster than sheep hooves, so three to four trims per year are usually necessary. Like sheep, goats grazing on softer, moist ground will need more frequent trimming than those on rough terrain.

Regular inspections are key to determining if a trim is needed earlier than planned. If hooves begin to curl, split, or show signs of infection, they should be trimmed immediately. Even if it’s ahead of your regular schedule.

Equipment Needed for Hoof Trimming

Having the right tools is crucial for effective and safe hoof trimming. The basic equipment you need includes:

Hoof Trimmers/Shears: These are specially designed to cut through the tough material of sheep and goat hooves. Choose sharp, durable trimmers that can make clean cuts, reducing the risk of injury to the animal. They come in different sizes, so select the appropriate size for the species you’re trimming. Take a look at our hoof trimmers here!
Hoof Knife: This is used to trim away any dead or damaged hoof material and to clean out the underside of the hoof. It’s particularly useful for dealing with infections or abscesses that may be present.
Restraint Equipment: While smaller animals may only need a head clamp, larger sheep or goats may benefit from a trimming stand or turnover crate to hold them in place safely during the process.
Disinfectant Solution: After trimming, it’s good practice to dip the hooves in a disinfectant solution to prevent infection, especially if you’ve trimmed near the soft, sensitive areas of the hoof.
Gloves and Protective Gear: Wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp tools and to maintain a good grip while handling animals. Additionally, having knee pads or protective clothing may make the process more comfortable, especially if you’re working in a large flock or herd.

Conclusion

Regular hoof trimming is essential for maintaining the health, mobility, and productivity of your sheep and goats. Without proper hoof care, animals are at risk of lameness, infection, and long-term health problems. Keep your flock healthy by regularly inspecting their hooves and trim them when needed. Don’t be greedy and invest in the right equipment, like a trimming stand, because not using the right equipment might cause you severe back pain!