A 2023 study found the prevalence of lameness in dairy cattle to be 23%. It’s understandable, then, that hoof health and regular trimming have been incorporated as a consistent part of animal care on dairy farms around the world.

With this in mind, a Swedish research group evaluated the optimal trimming frequency in first-lactation cattle to set them up for success in future lactations. Their comparisons were made from 30,613 first-lactation cows housed in freestalls on 202 Swedish dairy herds that reported relevant data as part of the Swedish Official Milk Recording Scheme.

Among the included herds, two hoof trimmings in the first lactation were most common at 34% frequency, followed by one trimming at 30% of cattle. In total, 59% of cattle trimmed were reported as healthy with no claw lesions. Eleven percent had mild infectious claw lesions, 8% had mild claw horn lesions, and 6% had both a mild infectious claw lesion and mild horn lesion. Eleven percent had severe infectious claw lesions and 3% had severe claw horn lesions.

“Trimming frequency during the first lactation was associated with hoof health at first trimming in the second lactation, with two or three trimmings being most beneficial for hoof health and cow survival in the second lactation,” shared Frida Åkerström and her co-authors in the Journal of Dairy Science.

Cows trimmed two or more times were at lower odds of being culled compared with cows that were not trimmed or trimmed just once during their first lactation.

“In particular, two trimmings, compared with one or no trimming, lowered the relative risk ratio of dying or being euthanized on-farm or being culled due to claw and leg disorders,” the researchers reported. “More than one hoof trimming in the first lactation also reduced the relative risk ratio of being culled for other reasons.”

The researchers also recorded breed statistics and found that the odds of having a claw lesion at the first trimming of the second lactation was lower for Swedish Red or Swedish Red crosses in comparison to Swedish Holsteins.

Even if animals don’t present with visible lameness, the researchers recommend preventative trimming that helps properly shape the claw for even weight distribution through the foot. Additionally, regular trimming can detect subclinical lesions and allow farmers to treat them before they cause lameness.