Carry out cattle foot trimming

This standard covers the skills and knowledge required to carry out cattle foot trimming.

The feet of cattle need to be checked on a regular basis and trimmed when necessary to maintain the health of the animal's feet. Feet are trimmed to produce a functional, balanced foot to improve locomotion and the overall welfare of the animal, and to alleviate pain.

Animals will need to be restrained in order to carry out trimming. You will need to assess the risks involved in handling and restraining the animal and use restraining equipment safely and humanely. You will also need to observe the animal's response to restraint and take appropriate action.

You must be aware of your limitations and ensure that you meet the relevant legal responsibilities for providing a duty of care under animal health and welfare legislation.

This standard is suitable for appropriately trained and qualified cattle foot trimmers.

1. maintain a high standard of professional and ethical conduct and work within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. confirm that the relevant training, experience and certification is in place to un-dertake the work to be carried out and recognise your own competence limita-tions
3. check that all equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), is kept well maintained, in good working order and clean at all times and checked prior to your arrival on site
4. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation and codes of practice
5. assess the risks associated with the site and the work being carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity, taking appropriate actions to ensure that the risks to the animal, yourself and any other people or animals are minimised
6. confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), current animal health and welfare legislation, relevant farm animal regulations and codes of practice
7. check the disease status of the herd and of individual animals with the cattle owner/keeper before commencing work, and take appropriate action where there are concerns
8. confirm that appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity are implemented and maintained in accordance with the industry-established protocols, including the use of recommended and DEFRA-approved disinfectants at the correct dilution
9. check and prepare the work area and equipment required for handling and restraining cattle and carrying out foot trimming, and ensure that the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work is worn at all times
10. check and record the mobility score of the animal before restraint
11. approach and handle the animal in a manner that is likely to promote their co-operation and minimise distress
12. restrain the animal safely and humanely, to ensure the safety of the animal and yourself, making sure the crush is used correctly, and the animal is secure and not distressed
13. monitor the animal's behaviour and adapt the handling and restraint in response to its reactions
14. confirm that the animal's health and welfare is maintained throughout
15. recognise when to seek assistance with the handling and restraint of an animal
16. recognise when behaviour may indicate that you should not continue with the activity
17. assess the condition and conformation of feet to identify any problems and decide on appropriate trimming requirements
18. identify possible causes of lesions and take the appropriate action, including the involvement of a Veterinary Surgeon where a lesion is severe enough to require the administration of a local anaesthetic
19. identify the appropriate trimming procedures and carry out foot trimming safely and effectively, using well-maintained, clean equipment and industry-approved methods, including the application of hoof/claw blocks where necessary
20. monitor the welfare of the animal throughout the trimming process and keep the time that the animal spends in the crush to a minimum
21. administer treatments following trimming where appropriate and legally permitted, including the use of suitable Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) if the treatment is clearly defined in the Herd Health Plan and already present on site
22. release the animal from the crush in a safe manner and ensure it is returned to a safe and appropriate place after release, advising the cattle owner/keeper of any additional aftercare hygiene requirements
23. complete records of findings, actions taken and recommendations, and share these with the cattle owner/keeper
24. clean and disinfect equipment following trimming to maintain hygiene and biosecurity
25. maintain professional competence through Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

1. your professional and ethical responsibilities and the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. the legal and industry requirements for training, experience and certification to undertake the work activities required, and the importance of not undertaking work that is beyond your level of competence
3. the importance of keeping all equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), well maintained and clean, and checking it before arrival on site
4. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation and codes of practice
5. how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the site and the work being carried out, and the suitable control measures and safe systems of work that can be put into place to reduce risks
6. your responsibilities under the current animal health and welfare legislation, other relevant farm animal regulations and codes of practice, and the legal limitations of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) and UK Veterinary Medicines Regulations with regard to diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury
7. the importance of checking the disease status of the herd and individual animals before commencing work, and the action to take if disease is confirmed or suspected
8. how disease may be transmitted or caused by the trimmer, how injury can be caused by the trimmer, and the ways to prevent these
9. the importance of hygiene and biosecurity to reduce the risks of spreading disease or contracting a zoonotic disease and the measures that can be taken, including the use of industry-recommended and DEFRA-approved disinfectants
10. the importance and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
11. the risks of personal injury or health problems associated with your work and how these can be prevented or minimised
12. the importance of checking and scoring the mobility of animals prior to restraint and how the scoring system works
13. the different types of crush used to restrain cattle and how to use them safely and correctly
14. the possible risks and hazards involved with the handling and restraint of cattle and how to minimise these
15. how cattle should be approached, handled and restrained in order to promote animal welfare and maintain health and safety
16. how to recognise the signs of distress in the animals being handled and restrained and the action required
17. how to identify situations where it is not suitable or appropriate for a person to approach, handle or restrain an animal without assistance and the consequences of attempting to do so
18. the importance of monitoring the welfare of the animal throughout the trimming process
19. how to assess the condition of the foot and identify lesions
20. the possible causes of lesions of the foot
21. the effect of housing, environment and diet on foot condition and horn growth
22. the signs that indicate infection and the possible methods of control
23. when to involve a Veterinary Surgeon or to recommend veterinary advice or attention
24. how to carry out cattle foot trimming procedures and the steps that should be followed
25. the reasons for applying hoof/claw blocks, the correct method of application and when they should be removed
26. when it is acceptable and legally permitted to administer treatments following trimming, including the use of suitable Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and how this should be done
27. the relevant legal and other requirements for maintaining records, the information they should contain and what should be shared with the cattle owner/keeper
28. the importance of appropriate insurance cover
29. the importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to maintain professional competence, and the role of professional organisations

Diseases that can potentially be passed on by the trimmer:
• salmonella
• foot and mouth disease
• ringworm
• foul of the foot
• Johne’s disease
• leptospirosis
• BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea)
• IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis)
• digital dermatitis
• Clostridial diseases (black leg, tetanus)

Equipment and PPE required for cattle foot trimming:
• apron
• wellington boots
• overalls
• wrist guards
• gloves
• disinfectant
• knives
• clippers
• rasp
• electric rotary rasp (if used)
• safety glasses
• electric cables (if used)
• hoof blocks (claw blocks)
• crush
• recording system
• first aid kit
• other relevant equipment

Foot and claw disorders include:
•             sole bruising/sole haemorrhage (corium dysfunction, claw horn disruption lesions)
•             digital dermatitis (DD), DD-associated claw horn lesions, other DD-infected lesions
•             heel horn erosion, slurry heel
•             inter-digital/superficial dermatitis
•             interdigital growth
•             foul of the foot, foot rot
•             ulcer – sole, bulb, toe, toe necrosis
•             white line disease and white line abscess
•             deep digital sepsis
•             thin sole
•             corkscrew claws, scissor claws
•             dermatophilus
•             leg injury
•             sole punctures
•             horn fissures/cracks – axial, horizontal, vertical

Methods of control include:
• footbath
• topical spraying of individual animals
• hygienic housing
• routine trimming
• good housing and husbandry

Possible causes of foot lesions include:
• mechanical forces and trauma
• low body condition score
• long standing times
• effects of poor cow flow
• poor biosecurity and infection control
• under-foot conditions/prolonged wet feet/slurry management and foot hygiene
• delayed detection and treatment

Reasons for applying hoof/claw blocks:
• improve locomotion
• alleviate pain
• promote healing
• transfer weight

Reasons for removing hoof/claw blocks:
• if uneven wear of the block results in the animal walking back on their heel
• if the block or glue causes irritation or discomfort by rubbing on the claw
• if the block has been in place for more than 6 weeks

Recognised zoonotic diseases:
• leptospirosis
• brucellosis
• ringworm
• tuberculosis
• salmonella
• E.coli
• cryptosporidiosis
• BSE (no direct transmission through handling but suspicion should be reported)

Records should contain:
• number and identity of animals trimmed
• mobility score
• date trimmed
• findings/lesions identified
• procedure carried out
• other comments e.g. aftercare, future visits, recommendations of veterinary professional

Signs that indicate infection:
• lameness
• heat
• swelling
• redness/smell/discharge

Steps in the preparation and application of hoof/claw blocks:
• preparation of the foot (level claw)
• clean claw
• selection of appropriate block
• produce level, smooth, stable block on application
• correct use and storage of adhesive
• recommendations for aftercare

Steps used in trimming:
• inner claw on hind feet, correct length and level
• outer claw on hind feet, correct length and level
• modelling
• height difference if required
• removal of loose horn
• awareness of dew claws and further checks for skin infection