How Often Should I Trim My Goats Feet?
Good goat husbandry, no matter what breed, includes learning how often you may need to trim their feet.
Yes, trim their feet.
Many farm animals require help, due to their pasture raised existence, in taking care of their overgrown feet.
In the wild they would be more able to wear their feet down on their own; therefore, not needing human help.
But domesticated dairy goats are more often penned, or pastured.
These pastures and pens lack, usually, the access to wonderful rocky areas that they would normally use to wear their feet down.
So how do you, as a first time dairy goat owner, know how often to trim? Here are a few tips.
• The climate in your area will play a large part in how often you will need to trim your goat's feet.
A wetter climate may mean that their feet may more easily become overgrown; therefore requiring more attention.
Also, trimming time is not only a time to trim off excess growth on their feet but also to check for damage or possible oncoming damage.
Wet weather is famous for causing issues with dairy goat feet.
The wet muddy soil can get compressed into their feet and cause infection, hot foot or a type of thrush.
So changing your foot trimming schedule due to weather should be a consideration.
• By the same token, dryer weather or a well-drained pasture or even a pasture that has a lot of rocks for goats to climb upon will make their feet wear down some; so you may find that you need to do trim less often.
• But if you're a first time goat owner, then the best source of information will be your local veterinarian.
Not only will a local vet be well-versed in the needs of your animal, but, they will also be able to factor in the areas climate in order to let you know how often you will need to trim your goat's feet.
But, whether you live in a rainy climate and end up having to trim every month or a climate that is dryer with a rocky pasture that allows you to only have to do trimming every two to three months; trimming will be required.
So learning how to do it should be on your to-do list of things to learn so you can meet the foot care requirements of your dairy goat herd.
Yes, trim their feet.
Many farm animals require help, due to their pasture raised existence, in taking care of their overgrown feet.
In the wild they would be more able to wear their feet down on their own; therefore, not needing human help.
But domesticated dairy goats are more often penned, or pastured.
These pastures and pens lack, usually, the access to wonderful rocky areas that they would normally use to wear their feet down.
So how do you, as a first time dairy goat owner, know how often to trim? Here are a few tips.
• The climate in your area will play a large part in how often you will need to trim your goat's feet.
A wetter climate may mean that their feet may more easily become overgrown; therefore requiring more attention.
Also, trimming time is not only a time to trim off excess growth on their feet but also to check for damage or possible oncoming damage.
Wet weather is famous for causing issues with dairy goat feet.
The wet muddy soil can get compressed into their feet and cause infection, hot foot or a type of thrush.
So changing your foot trimming schedule due to weather should be a consideration.
• By the same token, dryer weather or a well-drained pasture or even a pasture that has a lot of rocks for goats to climb upon will make their feet wear down some; so you may find that you need to do trim less often.
• But if you're a first time goat owner, then the best source of information will be your local veterinarian.
Not only will a local vet be well-versed in the needs of your animal, but, they will also be able to factor in the areas climate in order to let you know how often you will need to trim your goat's feet.
But, whether you live in a rainy climate and end up having to trim every month or a climate that is dryer with a rocky pasture that allows you to only have to do trimming every two to three months; trimming will be required.
So learning how to do it should be on your to-do list of things to learn so you can meet the foot care requirements of your dairy goat herd.