Why Clip Cows Feet Pre Mating?

Imagine –

Photo by Ian Mathers

• Your hoof is swollen, twisting your foot and ankle out of line with your leg.
• How difficult and painful this would make walking.
• And then one tonne of bull putting all his weight on your back legs at the same time.

The end result would be extreme pain and the risk of severe damage to the leg.  All of this would be aggravated on uneven or slippery ground.  This is why lame cows are reluctant to stand to the bull and have poor fertility.

Basil Lowman, basil.lowman@sac.co.uk