Hoof Care, Lameness Prevention, & Udder Health
Hoof rot and lameness are common and serious problems in all livestock, especially in sheep and goats who spend a lot of time grazing in damp areas. This class teaches hands-on foot care, proper hoof trimming tools and techniques, lameness prevention, and teeth and udder health. We’ve wanted to offer this class for a long time, because foot rot creates suffering for animals and operation finances alike. You will receive a hoof care kit to take home and will learn:
In this class, students learn:
The anatomy of the sheep foot and hoof, and a shared language for hoof parts
Causes of lameness, including injury, bacteria and viruses
How to observe and examine feet, teeth and udders
Safe and correct handling of sheep, and how to catch and treat sheep
How to trim a sheep hoof correctly and safely
Udder attachment and depth
OPP (ovine pneumonia) and mastitis
Hands-on milking and how to perform the California Mastitis Test (CMT)
How to perform blood tests
Ram issues and breed plans, including breed soundness, body condition, testicles, bone structure, foot conformation, b. Ovis STD, and blood tests
