It's not quite like a horses foot x2. When trimming horses, the heal looks invitingly easy to trim, but you better think twice. If you have shod many horses you know what I mean. On a cow the heel doesn't usually present much to trim and usually doesn't need it. Unless there has been injury or a genetic problem, you probably won't trim the heels at all. A cows toes will be pretty unforgiving if you trim the heel when it doesn't need it. You will make her sore for awhile. The far and large majority will be taken off the toes to the quarters of the outside of each toe. On the inside of the toes, I've rarely trimmed more than the tip of the toes and a little towards the quarters to keep them from rubbing together. In most cases only the toes need knocking off and I do it with cow standing flat footed, never getting near the quarters. On long toed cows you wil be taking quite a bit right off the end of the toes. If the cow has foundered, received an injury, or has a genetic defect causing excessive heal growth, then you have a problem. The heel will actually grow out and fold under, harboring manure and dirt against the sole and it will abcess. In these cases you have to tie the foot back and cut the flap of hoof wall back to the point it is not being stepped on. If you quick a cow at the toe and draw some blood, it's not good, but it's not like a horse. For a horse it's a big oh cr@p moment and probably alot of doctoring. I've drawn blood on many cows and never had a problem, not even soreness. I wouldn't recommend doing it intentionally and I don't, but cows are more forgiving that way. If you get a chance, oxen shoes are neat to look at. They cover a little on the inside of each toe and then the outide of each toe completely. It's almost like a horseshoe cut in half at the toe. Oxen shoes are only nailed on the outside of each toe. It's fascinating if you done alot of farriers work.
