Goats' hooves grow throughout the animal's life and need to be treated. Without pruning, they become a source of infection and interfere with walking. How to trim a goat’s hooves yourself at home, what tools to use, this question worries novice farmers who have large herds of artiodactyls, and owners of just one goat.
Why are goats' hooves trimmed?
All goats have to regularly trim their hooves and treat them. As they grow, they become clogged with dirt and injure the animal’s legs. Goats stop running, lose their appetite, then try to move less and lie down often.They become obese and their milk yield decreases. A goat with untreated hooves may position its feet incorrectly and have problems eating and drinking. Joint deformation often occurs. Parts of untreated hooves that dig into the skin injure it, the wounds easily become infected, and inflammation begins. The animals are unsteady on their feet and lame.
Under natural conditions, goats rub off the built-up stratum corneum on rocks or hard soil, so pruning is not required. When kept at home, they move much less; in winter they are on the thick bedding of a barn, so they need help. Goat kids have their hooves trimmed from the age of 3 months.
Optimal timing
To prevent the goat from experiencing discomfort, it is recommended to trim its hooves at least 2 times a year. This is done in the fall and spring without fail, at other times - as necessary. The previously keratinized layer is softened by allowing the animal to walk in the snow or on fresh grass after rain. Before going out to pasture in the spring, the hooves must be processed, since in winter they grow more intensively than in other seasons. In summer, the overgrown layer is partially removed during grazing and walking.
Required set of tools
To properly trim a goat's nails, you should stock up on available tools. The work cannot be done without special equipment:
- a hook for cleaning hooves from dirt, manure, small pebbles;
- hoof scissors with medium-length handles; they can be purchased in pet stores or online;
- garden pruning shears, with the thin ends of the blades it is convenient to cut off the stratum corneum;
- sharp table knife;
- garden shears;
- hoof knife;
- scissors and hacksaws for metal;
- For hooves that are too hard, side cutters can be useful.
The hoof knife can be used if you have experience in trimming, otherwise it is easy to get injured or cause it to the animal. In addition to tools, you need to stock up on hot water, a pink solution of potassium permanganate or blue copper sulfate; To clean the hooves after trimming, they can also be treated with creosote. Additionally, it is convenient to use special products that protect the hooves from infection and hoof rot, for example, “Kubatol”. They are purchased at veterinary pharmacies or pet stores.
Experienced farmers use a less extensive set of tools. If a person does not yet have practice in performing this procedure, it is better to contact a more knowledgeable livestock breeder and order trimming, carefully observing the process, or first watch several training videos.
Preparing the animal
Hoof trimming is scary for a goat, even if it has been through this procedure more than once. Young artiodactyls are especially restless. To prevent the animal from kicking, it can be tied in a special pen or placed on its side or back. Help from a second person may be helpful to handle the goat. Pregnant goats are exempt from the procedure. Their hooves need to be trimmed before mating and after lambing.
If the goat is standing in a special machine, the front hooves are trimmed by raising the leg to chest level or moving it back and slightly to the side.
The hind legs are bent at the knee, also moving backward.In order for the goat to calmly tolerate pruning, you need to give it something tasty and gently stroke the animal during the procedure.
Pruning technique
Each hoof should be thoroughly cleaned, free from dirt, pieces of droppings and grass. To soften the old stratum corneum, you can use warm water, clean them with a special hook or the end of scissors, additionally removing dirt with a brush and rinsing with clean water.
Important: neglected hooves cannot be straightened in one go; several trimmings will be required.
Leveling is carried out by frequently cutting off the slightly overgrown layer (every 2-3 weeks). After 3-5 trimmings, a flat hoof appears, the blood vessels go deeper, and the animal begins to walk normally. When trimming hooves, you should pay attention to the smell. If it is unpleasant, putrefactive, you should look for and treat the damaged areas.
The hoof horn is carefully cut off and a plane parallel to the upper edge of the hooves is leveled. After trimming, the goat should stand firmly on its feet. After trimming, the hooves should remain dry and white; if they are slightly pinkish, it means that the blood vessels are close. If you cut carefully, blood may appear, then you should treat the wound with iodine, a solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or furatsilin.
Healthy hooves are hard, white and dry. Animals do not experience discomfort when walking; they are active while walking. You should pay special attention to the goat if it begins to limp, stumble, or tries to lie down. Perhaps the hoof is injured by a sharp branch or stone, or it is time to trim it. If the condition of the hooves is not neglected, the goat is easy to help. It is enough to wash the leg, find the damage, and treat the wound. Therefore, you should not neglect such an important procedure.
