Hoof Trimmers To Demonstrate Good Foot Care
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.)
Dale Herr has been trimming
dairy cow hooves for about 20
years. During that time, he has
seen the need for skilled hoof
trimmers grow.
While the number of dairy
farms has been decreasing con
siderably, herd sizes keep grow
ing. So have the number of cows
that spend most or all of their
time on concrete and need
more attention paid to their feet.
“We keep getting less custom
ers but more cows (that need
trimming,)” said Herr, who grew
up on a dairy farm near New
Holland and now lives in Lititz.
He talked about his profession
Dale Herr uses a six-bladed chipper wheel to trim
hooves at Balmer Bros. Farm, Manheim.
DCP Sign-Up Deadline Nears
POTTSVILLE (Schuykill Co.)
County Committee Chairper
son, Ronald Troxell reminds
farmers that the April 1 base se
lection deadline is almost upon
us. Growers have until April 1 to
make a base selection and pro
vide the owner’s agreement to
participate in the direct and
Counter Cyclical Payment Pro
gram (DCP). Missing this critical
date could cause you to lose valu
able program benefits.
Sign-up activities require that
many growers visit the office
more than once. Troxell suggests
that growers contact the office
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recently while at work trimming
hooves on the 450-cow dairy
farm of Cletus and Dale Balmer,
Manheim. As one of two regular
hoof trimmers hired by the dairy,
Herr visits the Balmers’ herd the
third week of each month to per
form maintenance and corrective
trimming.
Herr uses an electric six-bladed
chipper wheel for about 70 per
cent of the trimming work, and
reaches for his hand tools to do
the rest. The combination of tools
is just an individual preference,
according to Herr. He noted that
many trimmers use the chipper
wheel for practically the entire
job.
“I trimmed with only hand
tools for 14 years and never
for an appointment prior to their
visit. Office staff can then pre
pare for the visit to greatly speed
the process.
The different options afforded
by the program cause enrollment
to take slightly longer then previ
ous enrollment experiences. The
required involvement of farm
owners is a new twist, which can
also take additional time. If a
farm operator wishes to separate
multi ownership tracts into sepa
rate farms another visit is re
quired before the farms can be
enrolled.
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switched completely,” Herr said,
Trimmers also have their own
opinions on the best type of chute
to hold the cow while trimming.
While Herr uses the kind of turn
table that rotates cows onto their
side, some trimmers like the
standing chutes that keep the
cow upright.
According to Herr, this prefer
ence has more to do with the type
of equipment the hoof trimmer is
used to rather than one kind of
chute being better than the other.
While healthy cows generally
have their hooves trimmed once a
year, Herr said some producers
do twice-a-year maintenance
trimming to help maximize the
benefits of the extra foot care.
“The ideal time to trim is to
ward the end of the lactation
when the cow is going into her
dry period,” Herr said. “Some
producers also trim at the
150-day point in the lactation.”
Cows with foot problems such
as sole ulcers, footrot, hairy
warts, and laminitis need to be
trimmed and/or treated more fre
quently. Herr applies medication
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and bandages, and keeps a log of
problems for each herd.
Many of the dairy farms Herr
visits in Lancaster and Chester
counties are those of longtime
customers. His own schedule is
fully booked, but Herr still finds
time to help promote better hoof
care on dairy farms, and is a
member of the National Hoof
trimmers Association.
“The hoof trimming industry
at this stage in the game is not
regulated,” he said. “That opens
the door to both good and bad
trimmers.”
Herr is one of the organizers
for an upcoming hoof trimming
clinic at the Lebanon Expo Cen
ter on April 4. The clinic is de
signed to “Help the farmer un
derstand foot health better, and
help the trimmer learn,” Herr
said.
The free clin
ic is set from 9
a.m to 3 p.m. on
April 4. Lunch
is included
Herr is hop-
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 29, 2003-A3l
ing about 400 dairy farmers and
70 hoof trimmers attend the clin
ic, which will include live hoof
trimming demonstrations and
lessons by veterinarians.
On hand will be Dan McFar
land, Penn State extension ag en
gineer, to discuss cow facilities;
Paul Neer to demonstrate hoof
trimming; and Dr. Gary Grumble
discussing the various types of
foot disease.
Hoof trimmers helping to or
ganize the event along with Herr
are Paul Neer, Mifflin County;
Paul Beiler, Lebanon County;
Jason Charles, Lancaster Coun
ty; Jim Zimmerman, Lancaster
County; and Garth Campbell,
Dauphin County.
For more information, call
Herr at (717) 627-2371, or Paul
Neer at (717) 935-5608.
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