Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. My husband and I have had a 10 acre hobby farm for a few years now. We have raised Arabian horses and chickens. I have been reading everything that I can find about dairy goats. We would like to have a couple of does for milk for our own use. I think that I am most interested in Alpines at this time. As a teenager, I had friends who milked 50 nubian does so I do have a little experience helping them. My question is about trimming feet on goats can someone describe the basics. How often? What tools? etc. Also if anyone can direct me to a good internet site where I might be able to learn more that would be great. Jan

-- Jan Uldrych (vrf@pressenter.com), January 19, 2002

Answers

Hi Jan, Here's one website with text and illustration... should help you. http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles/hoof.htm :) patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak visit our message board! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats moderator

-- Patty Putnam (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), January 19, 2002.

Look at this website also, it has really nice pictures http://fiascofarm.com/goats/hoof-trim-rf.htm

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), January 19, 2002.

Hi Jan, I use the Shear Majic trimmers in Jefferslivestock.com, they are made for small hands, but don't tell your husband that becaue he will love them also. If you keep the goats feet trimmed monthly it isn't a chore! You will be milking them anyway so they will be up on the milkstand! This will be some of the before and aftercare you should get from the folks you purchase from. If you aren't greeted with the kind of help you want, then don't purchase from them! groups.yahoo.com is a great start, Alpine Talk, Nubian Talk (even if you don't want Nubians there are over a 1000 folks on that site) just put goats in the search engine! over at MSN.groups is The Goat Shed also, but just ask away here, several Alpine lovers here, and of course Bernice :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

I like to use a plastic utility knife.

Some things I have found handy and helpful.

• Always wear heavy jeans and leather gloves when trimming. If a doe kicks or struggles, you could be badly hurt, and it would be a nasty dirty wound, too.
• Ideally the hooves should be trimmed monthly. I used to trim weekly and my does had perfect feet, now I am doing well if I can trim every three months.
• Restrain the doe in a milking stand or something similar.
• I like to trim in the same order every time. Near front foot, near rear foot, far rear foot, and then the far front foot. They don't mind the front feet getting trimmed as much as the rear, that's why I start there.
• To hold a front leg- bend it back towards her rear leg and support the foot with your left hand. Bring the right hand under the doe's chest, so your forearm will be bearing some weight as you cut with that hand.
• To hold a rear leg- Back up to the doe so that you're touching rears but not facing. Bring the leg up between yours, and flex the leg. Lean against the doe a little, don't stretch the leg out, she has more leverage that way, easier for you to get hurt.
• Cut the sidewalls that are folded over first. When all the flaps are gone, trim the toes.
• The corona, where the hair starts, and the bottom of the hoof, should be parallel. If they're not, trim offf more of the toe or heel as necessary.
• If the hoof starts to get pink, stop trimming. You're getting close to the blood supply. If you cut too deeply and she bleeds, put the hoof down, and pick up another one. The presure of stnding on it will help it to stop bleeding.
• Lastly, try to make trimming as pleasant as possible. That way they won't dread it so much, and they'll behave better. If you get tired and cranky, stop and do the rest the next day. :)

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 20, 2002.