Sheep Hooves: A Comprehensive Guide
These hooves are made for walkin.’
But only if they’re cared for properly, that is.
One of the biggest challenges for folks who raise sheep (and goats, for that matter) is properly caring for their hooves.
Sheep hooves are similar to human fingernails in that they’re constructed mostly from keratin, which is a rigid protein.
Sheep, along with other animals like giraffes, cattle, goats, pigs, and deer, are known as artiodactyls, which means “even-toed.”
Sheep also have dewclaws, which are a little further up the leg and are used to provide extra traction (evolutionarily useful when a sheep had to ascend or descend rocky slopes or traverse icy, slippery ground).
In the wild, sheep would normally do an okay job of managing their hoof health on their own. Because wild sheep are more likely to traverse the rocky ground mentioned above, their hooves would naturally give themselves their own little trimming.
However, domesticated sheep need a little more TLC, which is why our sheep get mani-pedis more often than I do (which, for the record, is never, so I guess that’s not saying much).
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When Do You Need to Trim Sheep Hooves?
Sheep who are grazed in high rainfall areas where the ground is habitually soft need to have their hooves trimmed more often than those grazing on rocky, dry ground. There are other factors that come into play here, too.
Genetics, nutrition, and individual characteristics can all influence hoof health, and it’s actually something we breed specifically for on our farm. If an ewe has repeated hoof problems, we try not to breed her the following year to avoid passing those genetics down into future generations.
To trim a sheep’s hooves, we tip them onto their rumps so they’re in, more or less, of a sitting position. The process of hoof trimming involves the removal of any manure, mud, or even small stones that may have become lodged between the hoof walls.
We watch out for any areas that look decayed, red, or inflamed (or even those emitting an unpleasant odor), as all of these can be indicative of hoof rot, which requires further treatment.
Once we clean out all of the junk, we use a pair of trimmers to cut away around the perimeter of the hoof until it is once again clean and level for the ewe to walk on. When it’s done, the hoof will be flat on the bottom and look almost boxy.
When done correctly, this does not hurt the sheep at all. Again, it’s just like cutting your fingernails.
What Happens With Bad Sheep Hooves?
The problem arises when you have a sheep with a bad hoof, in which case, we need to take extra precautions.
This year involved a lot more hoof trimming for us than normal for two reasons. The first was weather related: in the last two years, we’ve experienced far more rain and snowfall than in past years, meaning our sheep have almost perpetually been walking on wet soil.
The second is genetics. Last year, we introduced a new set of ewes into our herd with unknown genetics, and so we are working, as I mentioned, on identifying ewes with poor hoof genetics.
How Often to Trim Sheep Hooves?
We try to trim hooves every few months. As our ewes have lambed out (we’ve now surpassed 75 lambs for the season and expect some more), we have taken the time to “process” them just as we might their babies, except instead of ear tagging, we’re taking some time to trim and clean their hooves.
Fortunately, we have been able to address most of our foot issues with trimming. That said, there are many diseases that affect sheep hooves that can be absolutely devastating for a herd, namely foot rot (which is the most common, and can be treated, but can lead to permanent lameness), foot abscesses, bluetongue, foot and mouth disease, laminitis, foot scald, and sore mouth.
While not all of these issues can completely be prevented with good hoof trimming, the vast majority of problems can (or at least be identified during a regular mani-pedi sesh for the sheep).
There’s a lot that goes into raising sheep, perhaps more than we bargained for when we first started doing it.
But there’s little that’s quite as rewarding as watching your sheep amble around with pride, sporting a fresh new look and a much more comfortable walk after a much-needed “spa day.”
Want to learn more about raising sheep? Check out these featured articles!
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