Just like horse shoes, cows need some hoof maintenance too. These fine animals can have poor milk production, lameness, and decreased fertility if not properly groomed. Try to imagine giving a cow a pedicure.
The quality of floors, in terms of shape, hardness, friction and hygiene is of great importance for the health of cow feet and legs which in turn affects the milk production. So no matter how weird it may sound to you, someone has to trim cows hooves and there are people who are actually willing to do that. Generally people who have a farm house or a dairy need to take good care of their cows. And trimming cow hooves is not all that easy. It’s a serious job.
All of the animal's weight is carried by four hooves. So, their very life and happiness depends on hoof care.
Caleb Spencer, 23, who trims cow’s hooves for living, enjoys doing what he does. He comes home with cow dung and dirt all over his cloths and some- times gets a kick or two in his ribs while doing the job but he still think it’s an important job to do.
I love cows, and I'm really surprised at the number of the people who raise cattle who don't know what trimmers should and shouldn't do. -Caleb Spencer.
He began his career at 19 by creating his own yearlong apprentice program with the Hoof Trimmers Association and working with the professionals. He left his Franklin, Ind., home for a travel trailer that took him around the country, including Utah, where he and a six-man crew trimmed 1,600 cows in nine days. Depending on the breeding, some dairy cattle have a better hoof than others, so some need trimming more than others. Another consideration is the type of feed that the animal receives. Some feeds promote faster growth than others. Some feeds promote firmer hooves than others. There is a big difference! Even horses and dogs get their hooves trimmed for the same reason.
So what a cow hooves’ trimmer need to know before getting into this job? Just like any other job near animals, he or she should have knowledge of animal behaviors’ especially cattle’s. Any degree or certificate would be a plus. Hoof trimming should be supervised or taught by a veterinarian or professional hoof trimmer until you become accomplished at the skill. What the trimmers earn in general depends on the herd, i.e. size, location, what condition the cows are in etc. could be anything between $10 to $70 per cow. There are even companies with cow hooves trimmers who provide this service to farm house owners. This job could sound like a layman’s work for some while people who are doing it can only tell how difficult hooves trimming could get. It’s definitely a personal choice though.
So what a cow hooves’ trimmer need to know before getting into this job? Just like any other job near animals, he or she should have knowledge of animal behaviors’ especially cattle’s. Any degree or certificate would be a plus. Hoof trimming should be supervised or taught by a veterinarian or professional hoof trimmer until you become accomplished at the skill. What the trimmers earn in general depends on the herd, i.e. size, location, what condition the cows are in etc. could be anything between $10 to $70 per cow. There are even companies with cow hooves trimmers who provide this service to farm house owners. This job could sound like a layman’s work for some while people who are doing it can only tell how difficult hooves trimming could get. It’s definitely a personal choice though.