Maintenance Trimming

I have a small dairy and have been reading quite a bit about maintenance hoof trimming. I was hoping that someone could give me a little more information on this. I usually just trim once a year or if there is a cow having a problem. Thanks.

It is becoming the common practice to trim your herd twice a year, and some dairymen even recommend three maintenance trimmings. Even though this seems like a large expense, it needs to be noted that the results of hoof and claw disease are far greater than trimming costs. Reduced milk yields, lower reproductive rates, increased involuntary culling, replacement cow cost, discarded milk, and the additional labor which is required to manage the affected dairy cattle account for the largest monetary loses in the industry. Also, when a sound trimming program with accurate record keeping is implemented, you can more often than not catch a problem while it is still sub-clinical and take immediate corrective action. For example, blocking up the affected hoof before your cow goes lame. Karl Burgi, a very well respected hoof trimmer and instructor, believes that maintenance hoof trimming should not be looked at as an expense, but as an investment toward your bottom line. The average cost in the treatment of a sole ulcer if $600. Obviously making a management transition toward prevention just makes sense.