Claw Trimming
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The Pros and Cons of Claw Trimming
Pros |
Cons |
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What Qualifications are required by a Claw Trimmer?
- A claw trimmer would be a graduate from a school for claw trimmers (or veterinary medicine) and/or would be accredited by his/her peers as proficient in the art.
- The trimmer must be familiar with all of the diseases affecting the claws and digits.
- The trimmer would be able to maintain detailed accurate records of the foot health in all of the cows in a herd.
- A trimmer would have equipment available that would minimize stress
for the animals to be trimmed.
The Objective of Claw Trimming
To restore the shape and size of the claws to as near normal as possible in order to maintain "functional efficiency."
Rates of Growth and Wear of the Claw
A range of growth rate is reported (in millimeters per month):
Under the toe 3.86 to 6.00 and under the heel 5.38 to 6.96 (Respectively: Prentice 1973; Clarke and Rakes 1982).
The rate of horn growth is more rapid during the summer months (Hahn et al 1986).
The rate of horn growth is greater in cows fed high-protein diets (Manson and Leaver 1988).
The rate of horn wear is determined by the surface on which the animal walks.
Things to Avoid
Milkers should not trim their own cows. Cows remember claw trimming as a bad experience. Further interaction with the trimmer may impact on milk production and feed intake.
For similar stress-related reasons, trimming should not take place in or near to the milking parlor.
A lay trimmer may not undertake a painful procedure which, by law, requires an anesthetic.
A lay trimmer may participate in an epidemiological investigation of herd lameness but must not make recommendations to a producer.
How Frequently should Claws be Trimmed?
If the annual incidence of lameness is less than 4%, trimming should take place on an "as required basis."
If the annual incidence of lameness is between 4 and 8%, the claws should be trimmed once each year.
If the annual incidence of lameness exceeds 8%, the claws should be trimmed twice each year.
Heifers must be trimmed before they calve and after they have been acclimatized to concrete for three or more weeks.
About Claw-Trimming Tables and Chutes
Tipping Tables |
Trimming Chutes |
| In North America claw trimming has traditionally been performed on beef cattle using a tipping table. This device causes otherwise docile dairy cows alarm and stress. Such experimental work as has been carried out suggests that perhaps the restraining device used may not be as important a stressor as is the procedure itself. | Used extensively in Europe, these devices operate with the cow in the standing position. Belly straps support the animal's weight as each limb is lifted mechanically. It is likely this equipment causes less stress to the cow and is becoming more popular with North American claw trimmers. (See also RESTRAINT.) |
How Claws lose their Shape
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When dairy cows walk on slippery concrete, their hind feet tend to slide around. The animal "loses stability." Possibly the presence of a large udder tends to push the limb outwards. The end result is for the inside claw to wear normally and for the outside claw to become enlarged. |
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| According to Toussaint-Raven, the outside claw may bear more weight than the inside claw and this would account for the bleeding seen in the sole of the outside claw. |
About 3% of Holsteins have a "Corkscrew" on the outside hind claw.
This condition affects cows usually when they are four years of age or older and is irreversible.
The condition is heritable, therefore, cows and bulls affected with this problem should not be used for breeding.
Other abnormal shapes are encountered.
HOOKS usually affect inside front claws and are of no clinical interest.
ROLLED claws are common in the hind feet of some breeds and should be selected against.
SLIPPER FEET are claws affected with chronic laminitis.
Principles of Claw Trimming
In this version of the encyclopedia, I do not intend to describe any method in detail.
I have indicated previously that I believe persons in close regular contact with milking cows will do more harm than good if they attempt to become claw trimmers.
For many years the "Dutch Method" of claw trimming, originated by Toussaint-Raven, was considered to represent the standard of excellent trimming.
Today, workers in other countries claim to have made improvements, about which I am unable to comment.
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