Post by Mitra on Jul 19, 2008 12:05:23 GMT -5
Much to Helen's chagrin, a professional hoof trimmer came to our farm today. He drove his big truck with the hoof trimming chute/contraption right to the barn door. Helen came out and immediately sniffed the entire chute, nostrils and lips flaring, ears back (all the previous victims : I wanted her to go back in the barn while he set up the chute for her to enter it. She followed me in because I had apples. I locked her in there while he lowered the contraption and it made all the hydraulic noises. I figured since she'd come out and sniffed it and it hadn't eaten her, she wouldn't be shy to come back out and get in it. He asked if I wanted to put a halter on her and for a moment I hesitated and said, "Oh , I don't think she'll need one, she's goofy about these apples. I'm sure she'll follow these apples right into the chute." Then I thought about DH Max and how he would laugh (and then be annoyed) at the fantasy world that he says I live in. He is away in GA for a couple of weeks. I quickly reconsidered and said, "Actually, yes, could you put the halter on her." As soon as Helen saw this man approaching her with the rope halter she high-tailed it into the further of the two stalls with her head down in the corner. I told the guy she must think he's the vet or the AI man. In two minutes or less he had the rope halter on her. He was gentle with her. She was not so gentle with him (trying to smash him into the wall with her head). I knew I liked him as soon as he said what great shape she was in for her age Since he deals with a lot of dairys, a twelve year-old must be ancient! Getting her to go into the chute was not as easy as I thought it would be but this guy was not in a hurry, thank goodness. He got in the chute himself and pulled her in while I coaxed with apples in front of her but just out of reach. He climberd out the head gate and continued to pull while I continued to feed her apple halves with every step forward. Finally she was all the way in and the head gate was closed. Then he closed the back and started the lift. She was quickly in the air and on her side. He fastened each ankle/hoof into a fuzzy padded cuff (reminded me of the OB/Gyn office). He wanted me to hang onto her halter and pull down so she couldn't throw her head back. Her eyes were as big as saucers, lots of white showing. She started to moan immediately and never stopped until she was back on her feet. My girls and I were all on the verge of tears. He cleaned each hoof and then worked each one with the grinder. There were hoof slivers flying all over the place. He trimmed and shaped and shaped and trimmed. He showed me that on one of her rear hooves she has a "sole ulcer" which is why she's been limping. He cleaned the area well and said it wasn't as far along as some he's seen. He said it was good that it wasn't closer to the toe part of the hoof (a toe ulcer). He packed it with some kind of bright yellow powder (sulpher?) and bandaged up the hoof. He told me I could take off the bandage in a few days. I was talking to Joann shortly after he left and we're both wondering if the Vitamin C dose I've been giving her during each milking is what may have helped this ulcer from getting too out of hand.
When he was done, he lowered her and let her out the front of the chute. What a cool gizmo! She was very annoyed with all of us. We had more apples for her so she partially forgave us, not him. He said he'd never seen a cow act the way she does for apples Both my kids thought it odd that he hadn't seen this behavior before but I reminded them that most dairy cows don't get these kind of treats and he probably rarely deals with single Family Cows. It was a costly pedicure at $100 but well worth it. I'm looking forward to seeing her walking without that limp. Joann speculates that we may end up getting more milk as Helen will have an easier time grazing with her newly trimmed toes and doctored ulcer.
When he was done, he lowered her and let her out the front of the chute. What a cool gizmo! She was very annoyed with all of us. We had more apples for her so she partially forgave us, not him. He said he'd never seen a cow act the way she does for apples Both my kids thought it odd that he hadn't seen this behavior before but I reminded them that most dairy cows don't get these kind of treats and he probably rarely deals with single Family Cows. It was a costly pedicure at $100 but well worth it. I'm looking forward to seeing her walking without that limp. Joann speculates that we may end up getting more milk as Helen will have an easier time grazing with her newly trimmed toes and doctored ulcer.