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Harden a hoof

  • 05-09-2013 8:02am
    #1
    reilig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,401 ✭✭✭


    We have a young heifer that we are feeding for the freezer. Hope to feed her for another 4 to 5 months. She became lame last week and yesterday we got the hoof man to pare her. He did find a few little pebbles there, but he also found the hoof to be quite soft - he recons that this is from the feeding that she has been getting. He recommended that we get something to harden the hoofs. Has anyone had this problem? What would you use in a footbath to harden a hoof? Has anyone used a feed supplement like biotin to harden hoofs? Many animal feeds for pedigree contain biotin, but commercial feeds do not. Seems that biotin supplements are far more common in the equestrian world than in cattle?

    Any thoughts?


Comments

  • #2
    delaval
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭delaval


    Relig

    Hi feed levels can soften the hoof. You also see in horses, laminitis.

    I would suggest a copper sulphate solution for her. It will harden it quiet quickly. This is a great time to do it after the trimmer has opened the hoof.

    We use weekly here and buy in 25kg bags. I'm sure it can be got in smaller amounts. If you need to buy a big bag it wouldn't do your other cattle any harm if you have a foot bath
    Hope this helps.


  • #3
    greysides
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,041 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    If the hoof is soft in this weather something is wrong. Laminitis if you are feeding her sounds reasonable especially as the hoof man is thinking along the same lines. You may need to reduce the feeding or add bicarb. Something like that should sort a laminitis problem better than trying to harden the hoof and leaving the problem continue.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



  • #4
    vanderbadger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,087 ✭✭✭vanderbadger


    i remember a bull breeder telling me feeds with too much barley caused feet problems for young cattle, right or wrong i dont know


  • #5
    pakalasa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,552 ✭✭✭pakalasa


    http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/dairy/facts/info_feet.htm#acidosis


  • #6
    mf240
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,881 ✭✭✭mf240


    Yes add bread soda to the meal. Also if you take out a forkfull of nice straw to her I bet you she will gobble it up.


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  • #7
    arais
    Closed Accounts Posts: 53 ✭✭arais


    wheaten straw for fiber and phosoporous

    IMO... no doubt you most likely don't want to hear it but here goes

    a foot bath may indeed harden the hoof but it appears your problem is internal

    hardening the crust of the hoof may cause more problems than it cures


  • #8
    Butcher Boy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 589 ✭✭✭Butcher Boy


    ya I give bread soda to the butchers heifers when I am finishing them . but that is when they are inside.


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