How to trim hooves
How to trim hooves
hello
I have two 2yr old kune's and can no longer ignore the fact that I need to trim their hooves. I have been preparing for this by getting them to lie down while i hold their feet, tap their hooves and generally mess with them so am ready to 'have a go'. Can anyone advise on the best tool to use for this - shall i get a sheep's hoof trimmer from the farm store? Also i can see where the hoof is (rather than the foot) as it's quite see through but am still rather nervous about cutting it. Any techniques to use? I did wonder about filing them down with a horse's hoof rasp if I could get my hands on one. Does anyone use this method?
Many thanks
Dawn
I have two 2yr old kune's and can no longer ignore the fact that I need to trim their hooves. I have been preparing for this by getting them to lie down while i hold their feet, tap their hooves and generally mess with them so am ready to 'have a go'. Can anyone advise on the best tool to use for this - shall i get a sheep's hoof trimmer from the farm store? Also i can see where the hoof is (rather than the foot) as it's quite see through but am still rather nervous about cutting it. Any techniques to use? I did wonder about filing them down with a horse's hoof rasp if I could get my hands on one. Does anyone use this method?
Many thanks
Dawn
trimming hooves should not really be necessary if the pigs are kept at the correct weight. if the pig is overweight and the joints are not able to cope, the pig will walk 'down at heal' and then the toes will overgrow.
in a few cases it will be just bad conformation and the overgrowth is then unavoidable but more often than not its just that the pig is too fat. slimming them down and putting them on some had ground as redgeorge suggested should be sufficient.
in a few cases it will be just bad conformation and the overgrowth is then unavoidable but more often than not its just that the pig is too fat. slimming them down and putting them on some had ground as redgeorge suggested should be sufficient.
Thanks Wendy. Looks like a diet is in order then rather than a trim. I find it difficult to tell whether a kune is overweight or not, it's not as easy as the dog.
They are free ranging in my field with no hard standing at all. I limit their pasture in the winter to stop them ploughing the whole field and they hate being penned up - so i set them free in summer. I'm just too soft. It's just coming up to their favourite time if the year too - when the big apple tree starts to drop it's load! they're going to hate me
They are free ranging in my field with no hard standing at all. I limit their pasture in the winter to stop them ploughing the whole field and they hate being penned up - so i set them free in summer. I'm just too soft. It's just coming up to their favourite time if the year too - when the big apple tree starts to drop it's load! they're going to hate me

Re: How to trim hooves
I have been preparing for this by getting them to lie down while i hold their feet, tap their hooves and generally mess with them so am ready to 'have a go'. Can anyone advise on the best tool to use for this - shall i get a sheep's hoof trimmer from the farm store??????
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Re: How to trim hooves
Sheep clippers are good and I also use a file too - mine is actually a horse hoof file but I suspect any similar metal file will work well too. Good luck 

Cheerio for now, Sam Jones 
BKKPS Chairperson
Email : samjonesbkkps@aol.com
Tel: 0845 489 5863, leaving a message for the secretary who will forward to me.

BKKPS Chairperson
Email : samjonesbkkps@aol.com
Tel: 0845 489 5863, leaving a message for the secretary who will forward to me.
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- Posts: 263
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 5:03 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Re: How to trim hooves
Have you seen the you tube film clips?
Here they are in case you haven't:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03H23Zyitz4 - Trimming Feet - Part one - USA clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GCGaQfh1iQ - Trimming Feet - Part 2 - USA clip
Here they are in case you haven't:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03H23Zyitz4 - Trimming Feet - Part one - USA clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GCGaQfh1iQ - Trimming Feet - Part 2 - USA clip
Cheerio for now, Sam Jones 
BKKPS Chairperson
Email : samjonesbkkps@aol.com
Tel: 0845 489 5863, leaving a message for the secretary who will forward to me.

BKKPS Chairperson
Email : samjonesbkkps@aol.com
Tel: 0845 489 5863, leaving a message for the secretary who will forward to me.