A trip to the salon….

….yes, sometimes some cows need a pedicure.  Regina Tesnow of Tomina Farms sends a photo of one of her animals getting a trim.  Look carefully, or enlarge the picture, to see the hooves jutting out.  The cow has been walked into a chute that is actually a tilt table.  She was turned on her side for the work.

Most cows don’t seem to really mind, though Regina says they’re sure in a hurry to get back in the trailer and head home!  When hooves need trimming at Thistle Hill, we just bring the cow into the chute, tie her leg off the ground, and the vet does the job.

We’ve found that long nails seem to be hereditary.  A very few cows need trimming every year or two; others never have a problem.  It can be very painful, if not treated and, if the problem happens more than once, we cull the animal.  In the wild, nails are probably worn down traveling, but softer pastures just don’t offer much grinding.