Trimming cows' feet: The five-step Dutch method

The five-step Dutch method is a widely used approach to foot trimming that helps maintain healthy claws and supports good mobility.

Steps 1 to 3 focus on functional trimming and should be used for all cattle.

Steps 4 and 5 are therapeutic trimming steps and should only be used when there‘s a problem with the claw.

Before you begin:

• Lift the foot so the cow is comfortable
• Clean and dry the foot with sawdust
• Work safely and avoid positions where you’re likely to be
• Avoid over-trimming – always err on the side of caution

Start with the inner claw of the hind foot and the outer claw of the front foot.

Measure the inner hind claw from where the top of the claw goes hard, about 1 cm below the hairline, to the roll of the toe.

The ideal toe length varies depending on factors such as age, breed, environmental conditions and diseased or abnormal hooves.

As a guide, a minimum toe length of 8–8.5 cm is suitable for a second-lactation Holstein cow.

If the toe length is about right before trimming, do not trim the sole.

If the toe does need shortening to the correct length, excess sole should be trimmed down to a minimum toe step of 6–8 mm.

Avoid trimming the heel to maintain foot angle and tip weight onto the toe. Research indicates that as sole thickness decreases, risk of lameness increases. Therefore, if unsure, always err on the side of safety and avoid over-trimming.

Repeat the process on the outer claw, levelling up to the inner claw.

If the inside claw was short, do not trim the outside claw to match its length. Instead, cut to 8–8.5 cm.

Match the levels across the toes and heels by removing horn from the sole. Be careful not to remove too much. Most heels are already balanced in healthy cows, so judge balance carefully and avoid getting into the habit of routinely removing heels.

Take care not to remove which stretches back from the toe a third of the way along the axial wall (inner wall of claw).

Figure 1. The main aspects to consider when applying steps 1 and 2 to the claws

Measure inside claw from where horn is palpably hard just below the coronary band.

If claw is long, trim to appropriate length and pare excess sole (spare heel).

Match outer claw to the inside claw when required.

Balance claws. Note horn has not been removed from heels to retain heel height.

Model ‘dish’ out the inner parts of both claws, behind the wall on the inner claw edge, to allow a flow of muck between the toes and to reduce weight bearing on the typical sole ulcer site – see area circled yellow in Figure 2.

It’s important that the modelling does not extend into the toe triangle as this results in the removal of the weight-bearing axial wall.

The model on the inside hind claw/outside foreclaw should be steep and narrow.

The model on the outside hind claw/inside foreclaw should be wide and deep.

In housed cows, this should extend to the white line of the outer wall.

Figure 2. 'Dishing' out the claws

This step aims to create a height difference for a painful claw, one with a claw horn lesion, so injured parts bear less weight and are allowed to recover.

In most cases, a block should be applied to the sound partner claw to create a height difference.

For cows with lesions in the outer hind claw/inner fore claw, the back two-thirds should be lowered too. Never remove heel from the inside hind claw or outside foreclaw.

Remove any loose horn from the heel; there will be more in cases of heel horn erosion. Beware of removing too much weight-bearing surface from the bulbs of the heel.

Check between the claws and at the heel for digital dermatitis.

Figure 3. Hoof knife used to remove loose heel horn

Figure 4. Spreading pliers used to check between the claws