My girls and boy really need a trim job. I am ready and willing to do it...just a wee bit nervous I guess. I am afraid I will do it wrong I guess. The girls are at least two months away from kidding..so I thought I should do it now before they get any heavier, as I do not want to hinder them being able to walk. The stumper for me (well the biggest stumper) is the pointy toe part. Do I cut the point off and if I do..how far? I know..greenhorns are terrible and you have probably answered this a thousand times..I looked in the past posts...but did not see anything about how to do the pointys. Thank you so very much..

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), May 03, 2002

Answers

Here is a Boer/meat goat website -SEE LINK BELOW- that explains how to trim and has pretty good photo's so you can make sure that what you think is being said, really ~is~ ... by looking at the photo.

Be sure to understand where the coronary band, toe, sole, and heel of the goat is located, especially.*Remember to trim bits at a time until you get a good feel- and stop when you see pink, not white, in the softer inner hoof tissue. You can gauge about how much by looking at the Coronary band(top of hoof where hair grows. You'll notice the "growth rings". The bottom of the hoof should be parellel to the coronary band. A properly trimmed hoof will have no pointy toe. It will look like a kids hoof- pretty square.

Silly- but ... like this: Make a fist and place the ring section of your finger/and knuckles on the table top with your wrist/arm straight up in the air. Overgrown hooves look more like you've places that fist with the fingernail section of your hand on the table top- more like a dogs foot.

I've been trimming on the goats hooves all week...I have no help and no stand so I wait until the goats flop down next to me on the ground- in the pen. This way they are calm enough to stay put while chewwing their cud. If I am lucky they hold still while standing- if they remember that I am not trying to hurt them. My breeder,besides using hand trimmers, even uses a wood planer tool to be certain that both hoof section and heels are equally trimmed flat on each foot. I'm not that brave yet.

You can do it! You'd really have to whack away pretty deep to cut into the quick. Just cut in the same direction as the hoof "growth rings" and don't forget to balance/trim out the softer heel too.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2178/hooftrimmingdoe.html

-- Wendy Hannum SE Ohio (wendy@skywardinternet.com), May 03, 2002.

Thank you Wendy...those pics really helped! I am going to go out this evening and try and do one. I have four to do, but I am not expecting to get them all done...I think I will be STRESSING a wee bit with the first one! That site was so very informative. Thanks again..Oh, Wendy, do you raise Boers by any chance?

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), May 03, 2002.

I knew you were feeling just like me about your first trim job. I too have four goats- but they are all dairy breeds(a Saanen,a LaMancha, and two Togg/OberX twins). We've only had the goats a year now. Last week I thought I'd done something wrong-diet wise- when the oldest doe lost two front teeth- duh...I learned those were just milk teeth...See? Always have something to learn!

Best thing to do is just "go to" the trimming job and try not to cut your own hands! It became much easier to figure it all out after I just went ahead and trusted that I could do it- figgity goats and all. The back legs are harder for me as the goats kick to get free harder- so beware!

You can do this, just "measure twice and cut once". As if the goats would be that patient... LOL! Start out making small trim cuts til you get the hang of it, never go in at a deep angle.

BTW,(OT) twice now I've heard that Boers are raised and much of the meat goes into making pepperoni. Is this fact or fiction? Just wondered.

Wendy, In SE Ohio

-- Wendy Hannum SE Ohio (wendy@skywardinternet.com), May 03, 2002.

I laughed .. you do know how I feel!! I have one registered Saanan and two (mother and daughter) registered Nubies. I got in a pickle for a billy..just did not want to take the girls off the homestead here. Soooooo...My husband saw a Boer, two year old billy. Bought him and LOVE him. He is so good natured..heck he is more talkative and friendly than the girls! I am tempted to get a dairy billy and pick up a couple of Boer girls. I do not know about Boers I just know that Barge is huge and nice!

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), May 03, 2002.

Barge! LOVE that name- so appropriate!

One other thing I thought about after I orig. posted to your query. If you trim hooves right after a rain, or if the goats have at least been out browsing in dewy grass, the hooves will have softened up some and are easier to trim.

Good results to you!

-- Wendy Hannum SE Ohio (wendy@skywardinternet.com), May 04, 2002.

Just a great big THANK YOU WENDY and all. The trimming went much better than I anticipated. They were horrible..now they are much better. Still..I think I will try to work on them next weekend too, as I am not satisfied with them yet...I just do not want them to get sore. Thank you again Wendy..you really pulled me through this! Hope that I can return the favor sometime. Bless your heart..hoping you are having a great weekend!

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), May 04, 2002.