Are you wearing shoes? Unless you are cozied into bed right now, the answer is most likely yes. Typically, putting on shoes every morning is something we do without a lot of thought. That is, until we decide to try out a new pair of shoes and end up with a dreaded blister. Then all we can think about is the pain we feel in our feet. Most of the time, we don't want to walk in those shoes anymore, and we hurry to take them off to feel that sweet relief from pain. Yet our fellow four-legged friend, the cow, doesn't quite get that same luxury.

Lactating cows spend an average of 10-12 hours a day lying down. This means the other 12-14 hours of the day cows are on their feet, either standing or walking. A cow's hoof is very similar to our own fingernails. They are constantly growing. The normal growth rate of the hoof wall is about 7 millimeters per month. As cows walk, they can wear their hoof down naturally, but this wear is often inconsistent. It is either too much (overwear) or too little (overgrowth). Both of these issues can lead to lameness, which is when a cow changes the way she walks due to the pain she is experiencing.

Frequent and regular hoof trimming is imperative to prevent lameness. We shouldn't wait to call the hoof trimmer only when there's a problem. We want to prevent lameness for the health and welfare of the cows. Yet staying on top of regular hoof trimming can also prevent lameness before it ever happens and keep milk production high. Generally, cows should have their hooves looked at every 4-6 months, with trimming done as needed. Any cows that have foot lesions should be examined more frequently, every 3-4 months, as a history of foot lesions can affect hoof anatomy. This is why it is essential to record any hoof lesion data into your farm's recordkeeping system. Another option for a more in-depth foot trimming program for farms that don't have a lot of natural hoof wear would be examining a cow's hooves before calving, between 60-150 days in milk, and again before dry-off. Regardless of the program you choose, what matters most is that you have a regular hoof trimming schedule. Aaron Lavoy, owner of Midwestern Hoof Care and Trimming School, puts it best when he wrote, "The significance of lameness costs is often underestimated compared to the relatively small expense of prevention. The intent to save $1,000 frequently hinders the potential to generate $10,000 or more. I have witnessed numerous instances where investing more into hoof health yielded a return within a month that exceeded the annual cost or initial inputs. This is why hoof health should be seen as an investment rather than an expense."

If you have interest in SWNYDLFC hosting a hoof trimming training clinic in our region, please reach out to Katie Callero at 607-422-6788 or krc85@cornell.edu.