We are considering putting meat goats in with our cattle. However, my husband is spooked by the thought of constant feet clipping. I've read that Kikos don't need as much clipping. How often do homesteaders out there clip, how difficult is it and has anyone had kikos? Thanks!

-- Georg in TN (dgkotarski@bledsoe.net), February 11, 2002

Answers

I don't know about Kiko, but generally every two to three months is needed for goat feet if they are not on rocky ground. If you had some very large boulders in your pasture for them to jump on, that would help to keep their feet trimmed, as they like to climb up anything above ground level. You would still have to do some trimming, just possibly not as much.

-- Dianne Wood - Woodland, WA (woodgoat@pacifier.com), February 11, 2002.

They do not need constant foot trimming, any more than cattle do. Every three or four months would be fine. The amount of clipping required will depend on the feed they receive, and the type of ground you have. Try to schedule foot work for days when the weather has been moist, the feet will be softer and much easier to trim.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 11, 2002.

I've worked with quite a few different types of hooves and have found that white hooves tend to grow faster and are more elastic than black hooves. The black hooves are harder and don't grow as fast so you don't have to trim them as often. That's been my experience with goats, sheep, ponies and llamas.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 11, 2002.

Trimming can be done in a matter of a few minutes per goat. We have Nubians and I have found that some lines have slower growing hooves than others, they all receive the same food, etc. I would check them in a couple of months, trim if necessary. When you first get them I would check them over trim, treat for foot rot if necessary before letting them out. Then just check to see when they need done. After the first couple of times you will know how often to do them. They are a lot softer if it has been wet out.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), February 11, 2002.

Makes a huge difference on your ground. Even here at my place, up on the iron ore hill, I could eaisly go several months, which I don't, between hoof trimming, but put these same animals out in the woods pen with the pinestraw and you have squishy feet that need trimming at least every 2 months. Putting off foot trimming until it is this much of a chore, will make you hate goats quickly! A good idea is to make some A frame toys for the goats, to run up and down on, cover these in asphalt shingles or rolled roofing, this helps pare down the hooves also, we are going to do this also. Really look at the quality of feet on your meat goats, there are boers out in our area with feet that look like claws! Their pasterns should be short and straight, their hooves symentrical, and stay away from all the high protein pellets everyone feeds, they are only nursing kids for 3 months and growing meat! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

Oh no! My husband will be horrified. He loves to dote on his animals but trimming every 3 months? Do they tend to stand still for this? It's not that the trimming sounds bad (no worse than pruning trees) but getting them to cooperate sounds like a nightmare. And cows, too? We have cows but their feet seem to never change. I do know that overfeeding goats (and donkeys) causes their feet to grow too much. Does good pasture do the same thing? Thanks. Georg

-- Georg in TN (dgkotarski@bledsoe.net), February 11, 2002.

We never had trouble trimming the goats' hooves although we only had 5 milkers. Just give them grain. We usually checked once a month while milking to be safe. Not that hard to do if kept up to date. Also we spent lots of time with our animals; just hanging out with them. Goats are fun!

-- Hank (hsnrs@att.net), February 12, 2002.

Yes, cattle do have to have their feet trimmed. What you need are head stanchions, one for the goats, like a milking stand, and one for the cattle. You can also just tie a goat up short and trim the feet, but a milking stand makes the job a lot easier, and chances are you'll need one at some oint anyway. If you are gentle and try not to make it stressful, they get used to it and don't pitch a fit everytime. I remember reading a post from a guy who wanted to know why it was so hard to trim his goat's feet, why they were so uncooperative. Turned out he was tying a rope to the foot and hoisting them up by it! Wonder why they didn't care for that....

As a side note, my husband says that cattle and goats do not mix well in a feedlot or confined situation. An open field is OK, but if they are in a pen, the cattle have a way of trampling and inadvertantly killing or injuring the goats.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 12, 2002.

Trimmed plenty of goat hooves, but never even thought of trimming the cattle as a routine. I know of no rancher nor farmer who has trimmed cattle hooves except on an individual basis...ie not as part of herd working. More often than not the cow that needed a trim shipped. My context is for beef cattle raised on grass. I am interested to find out why some trim their cows feet routinely and what breed they are.

Oscar

-- Oscar H. Will III (owill@mail.whittier.edu), February 13, 2002.

Trimmed plenty of goat hooves, but never even thought of trimming the cattle as a routine. I know of no rancher nor farmer who has trimmed cattle hooves except on an individual basis...ie not as part of herd working. More often than not the cow that needed a trim shipped. My context is for beef cattle raised on grass. I am interested to find out why some trim their cows feet routinely and what breed they are.

Oscar

-- Oscar H. Will III (owill@mail.whittier.edu), February 13, 2002.

Vicki -- Any specifics about building the A-Frame toys for goats to keep hooves trimmed? Size, dimensions, etc.?

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), February 16, 2002.