Curly Claw Longevity

[M.Magis]

Track down people involved with local 4H or show cattle. Local feed store can probably help out. Most show steers are getting their feet trimmed at least once. Guy we use here, we can take 1 steer or 10 to his place, takes about 10 minutes per animal. $25 a head. Otherwise, I would agree with farmerjan, just nip the tips once or twice a year. It just doesn’t make sense to cull in your case, if you can add a few more years to her productivity by spending a couple hours per year trimming her feet.

 

[Stonewall Joe]

The 'curl' can also happen after the animal had an injury to that claw. Had a bull with it this summer. No curls before, hoof curled after he was severe lame due to an infection on that foot.
Just cutting the curl tip off is not going to do anything, other then you not seeing a curl anymore. You could ask your vet if he trims feet, or has someone that does them if you feel uncomfortable trying to do it. All you would need is a chute, some rope to lift and tie the foot and some sharp nippers, maybe a rasp. If your ground is dry you will have a good work out cutting very hard feet.
I would do it, who knows, maybe just a one time occurrence and if you like their calves....... why not put in that little bit of work. That's just my 5 cents, others would cull regardless.

get a pair of 15" GE nippers and the feet are pretty easy to trim, if you by feed store nippers you will work pretty hard

 

[angus9259]

Well if you would go to your profile and put a location in I might be interested in coming over and helping. Hard to know if that or any other advice you might want is worth the post if we don't know where you are.

As to your beef production question... I think several people here have expressed their opinion that they would cull rather than keep, and ... whew... that's also advice whether you want to see it that way or not.

Thank you. I'll add it to the poll I'm not taking.

 

[angus9259]

Track down people involved with local 4H or show cattle. Local feed store can probably help out. Most show steers are getting their feet trimmed at least once. Guy we use here, we can take 1 steer or 10 to his place, takes about 10 minutes per animal. $25 a head. Otherwise, I would agree with farmerjan, just nip the tips once or twice a year. It just doesn't make sense to cull in your case, if you can add a few more years to her productivity by spending a couple hours per year trimming her feet.

Great suggestion. Thank you. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[angus9259]

My vet is coming out this week. I'll get out the loppers and nippers and see what happens. Thanks for the thoughts in that regard. They have calves on them now that won't wean till spring so at least it could (possibly) help them get along till then anyway. Maybe if it looks like there's progress at that point in allowing them to manage a pain free existence at my place for another calf (which I will use for beef only remember) - then maybe I'll give it a shot at that time. If not, I'll bite the bullet and retain a heifer out of one of those same cows so I can restart this thread in another couple of years.... (just kidding)

Thanks folks

 

[sunnyblueskies]

My vet is coming out this week. I'll get out the loppers and nippers and see what happens. Thanks for the thoughts in that regard. They have calves on them now that won't wean till spring so at least it could (possibly) help them get along till then anyway. Maybe if it looks like there's progress at that point in allowing them to manage a pain free existence at my place for another calf (which I will use for beef only remember) - then maybe I'll give it a shot at that time. If not, I'll bite the bullet and retain a heifer out of one of those same cows so I can restart this thread in another couple of years.... (just kidding)

Thanks folks

We run just commercial cows. So nothing fancy. If there is a cow that produces excellent calves.......... I have been known to keep that cow, as long as nothing goes wrong with that foot and she is not lame. Always keeping in mind though not to keep any of her heifers for replacement. Nothing wrong with that.