Common conditions that require therapeutic trimming
Shelly hoof
(Also known as White Line Disease)
This is where the hoof wall separates from the sole, creating a 'pocket'. While the separation doesn't cause lameness, dirt, manure, and stones become packed up in the pocket as the animal walks, which can cause discomfort and infection.
What to do
Trim the pockets away, in a U or V formation. This prevents dirt from packing into the pocket, but still allows the hoof to bear weight. 'pocket'
Laminitis
This condition requires veterinary attention. It's mostly seen in goats, often fat ones. It's most commonly caused by a diet too rich in carbohydrates, eg grain, lush spring grass.
Over time, the condition causes abnormal growth and ‘platform soles' or tall, rock-hard soles.
What to do
Talk to your vet about a treatment plan. The vet will need to trim the hooves back every few weeks over time, leaving the toe slightly longer and the heals slightly shorter than normal.
In long-standing cases, it may be impossible to regain perfect conformation to the foot. The animal may require x-rays to assess where the pedal bones lie beneath the surface. If the damage is too great, the animal will need to be euthanised.
Footrot
This is a common infection of the hoof caused by bacteria that thrive in damp soil. Oddly, the bacteria stimulate the growth of the hoof wall, so you'll see sudden overgrowth and severe lameness. An animal may hold its leg in the air, or not want to walk if the infection is in more than one hoof.
Sometimes, you'll see a grey-black, foul-smelling pasty scum.
What to do
Talk to your vet on how to treat this painful condition and how to manage recurring infections in your herd.
Trimming the hooves won't cure or prevent footrot. Over-trimming healthy hooves predisposes them to infection; trimming during an infection can slow healing.
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Only trim any severely overgrown or overturned hoof wall, to expose the bacteria to air.
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Be conservative and leave perfecting the shape of the hoof until the infection has healed.
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Trimmings are highly infectious - dispose of them immediately and disinfect trimming shears between animals.
Weak pasterns
This is a weakness of the tendons that run down the back of the foot, resulting in a dropped fetlock. It can be a genetic fault and may manifest in goats as young as six months old.
It's also caused by trauma to the hoof, months, or years of poor trimming, and can also affect older does after multiple pregnancies.
Over time, the goat grows long toes and rocks back on their heels, causing bruising and traumatic wounds.
What to do
You can't solve this with one trim, and you may require a vet visit to get on the right track. It will take time to correct the length of the toes and achieve parallel lines between the sole and coronary band.
The heel may wear abnormally, so regular trimming is required. In severe cases, your vet may use splints or shoes to artificially extend the heel to help the
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healing process.
Read & see more
This guide from Beef & Lamb UK has excellent images and diagrams of common sheep (and goat) hoof issues. beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk
- search for ‘reducing lameness for better returns'
Found: Features:
nationwide
multi-stemmed, scrambling, perennial vine that twines around any available support. Remains evergreen in warmer areas, but usually dies back over winter in frost-prone regions. Long, pointed, fleshy, green leaves grow off wiry stems. Large, pendulous clusters of 15–20 dark reddish-orange, tubular flowers with redspotted yellow centres, appear from summer to winter. Produces round, fleshy, bright orange fruit (2cm) from May to August.
Why is it a weed:
extremely fast-growing and shadetolerant. Develops dense masses of fleshy, tuberous roots, making it very difficult to kill. Can invade dense forest and shrubland, smothering everything from canopy trees to understorey plants. Also found along riverbanks, around lakes, and on roadsides.
How to control it
Dig out (all year round): cut the stems and dig out the root system. Ensure you remove all rhizome fragments, flowers, and seed pods. Wrap seeds in black plastic and leave in the sun, before disposing of at a refuse transfer station.
Cut and paint stems (spring-summer): cut stems 15cm above ground and paint stumps with picloram gel.
Cut and spray stems (spring-summer): cut stems 15cm above ground and spray stumps with glyphosate (200ml/L).
Overall spray (spring-summer): spray foliage with glyphosate (200ml/L). To prevent damage to a support plant, pull the vine off the support, lay it on the ground, then spray it.