One Down, Two to Go

Geesh... day one of hoof trimming was a gong show...  It all started out okay but when I left to go to the house to get lunch... there was apparently a shit show taking place up at the chute... R had a rank cow there without her calf and she was tired of waiting and went through the fence in 3 different places and still didn't get back where her calf was...she never did get done today but not to worry there are two more days to go...

Some one might read this and think, man they must have crappy cows that that many need thier feet done...but I just want to clarify, that 90 % of the cows we are doing have good feet, not long or twisted...just bloody sand cracks...

Sand Cracks are a condition that shows up in animals hooves for many reasons...most of them out of our control.  Any kind of enviromental stress will cause a hormonal imbalance and it affects the hoof growth.. Copper and Zinc levels in the feed and therefore the cows blood is another contributing factor.  Draught conditions are one of the biggest factors the dry ground and air dries the hoof out and the ground becomes very hard putting impact stress on the dry hoof and it splits open...dirt and crap get in the crack causing secondary infection and voila...the cow is lame..

We have had a few very dry years and all the neighbours are saying they have bad sandcracks in thier cows feet as well..  We are going to try adding a vitamin B to the salt and mineral and see if that works...A professor at Sask. Vet University did an study and they found that they reduced the number of sand crack incidents by up to 20% by adding the vitamin B.

Any way... after our first day... I have a sunburnt face... I had a big hat on and glasses but it doesn't take much...just the Uv rays bouncing around. even my lips are swelled...the only way I can avoid that happening is to stay inside during the day...so that is a no go...can't do that and farm...

We did buy a new baler without having to leave home....OMG... and we also bought the most awesome corral posts....I am more excited about getting those than I am about the baler actually. 

I am really beat, so I am going to bed early...I hope to be in better shape tomorrow...and perhaps will write more then...maybe even some pictures....