Headstand Construction– Select a headstand which is sturdy, and which is sized appropriately for your sheep. Choose one that is easy to adjust up or down to accommodate young lambs and mature rams comfortably.

Hoof health plays an important role in a sheep’s overall health and well-being, so be sure to take hoof care seriously! Neglecting to trim a resident’s hooves before they become seriously overgrown can predispose them to various foot issues, so regular hoof evaluation and trimming is key. Be sure to learn proper technique – remember, improper trimming can cause issues that could have been avoided. Poor nutrition can also negatively affect hoof health, so make sure your residents are fed a healthy diet that meets all their nutritional needs. Additionally you should pay careful attention to and consider the following options when selecting a sheep shearing stand: At the major shows and sales, a person can walk around the barns and see a good number of Ketcham’s Trimming Stands because of the quality we have built into these stands. They are heavy enough to provide stability and to withstand the largest sheep out there. We are so confident of our stands and we want you to feel the same. All of our trimming stands are designed by us, made by us here in the USA.

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This very affordable steel sheep stand from Weaver Leather features folding legs which can be secured for easy transport, wide pads at the base of each leg, which makes the stand tip-resistant, and it is powder-coated to help prevent rust.

Residents may have a particular form of restraint that they are most comfortable with, so before you start trimming, take time to find a position that keeps them calm. Even if you have a go-to technique you prefer, you may find certain individuals or situations require something different, so it’s a good idea to get used to different forms of restraint. If not already done, start by using a brush or piece of gauze to clean their feet of dirt or debris. This will make identifying the parts of their hoof much easier! It’s important to maintain the correct shape and angle of the hoof. In a properly trimmed hoof, the bottom edge of the hoof will be parallel to the coronary band (where the hoof wall and skin of the leg meet). The hoof wall and heel should also be relatively flush with the sole, though the outer wall should be slightly longer than the inner wall. Infectious foot rot (sometimes spelled “footrot” or used interchangeably with the term “hoof rot”) is a bacterial infection that affects both sheep and goats but tends to be more severe in sheep. Though there are often multiple bacteria involved, Dichelobacter nodosus (formerly Bacteroides nodosus) must be present to be considered true foot rot. The other bacteria most often associated with foot rot, but which in the absence of D. nodosus does not cause true foot rot, is Fusobacterium necrophorum. On its own, F.necrophorum causes interdigital dermatitis Dermatitis refers to skin irritation. This may include itchy, dry skin or a rash on swollen, reddened skin. It may also cause the skin to blister, ooze, crust or flake (described below) but can make the foot vulnerable to infection with D. nodosus. There are numerous strains of D.nodosus with varying degrees of virulence. Some countries, such as Australia, categorize infectious foot rot as benign or virulent based on the strain, but this is less common in other parts of the world, including in the US. Dan Morrical joined the Iowa State University staff in 1984 as Extension Sheep Specialist after completing his doctorate degree at New Mexico State University. He held the rank of Full Professor as of July 1, 1995 and retired from full-time teaching in 2017. Pos/Neg fences can be converted to Pos/Pos in moist conditions. Remember, all fences must be kept free of vegetation.

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In some cases, you may need to trim the heel as well, but be very careful because this area is much softer than the hoof wall. If it appears that the sole itself may need to be trimmed, this must be done carefully and is best done by an experienced hoof trimmer or a veterinarian who will be better able to determine if the sole needs trimming and how much trimming it needs. Remember to always pay attention to the angle of the hoof, using the coronary band as a reference. An example of a trimmed sheep’s hoof. The primary purposes of trimming a sheep’s hooves are to give them an even, comfortable walking surface to step on, and to clean out accumulated dirt and debris that might have gotten caught in their feet. Just like when trimming your fingernails, properly trimming a sheep’s hooves should not be painful. However, some individuals may take issue with the restraint required to properly assess and trim their hooves! This will save you some time up-front, and you’ll be glad to have a folding stand at the fair. A metal stand will last for years, unlike a wood stand. Sheep hooves are made out of keratin – the same protein that makes up our fingernails and toenails. And just like our nails, a sheep’s hooves are constantly growing. In the wild, a sheep would naturally wear down their hooves while walking and grazing, but in most sanctuary environments, hooves will not be worn down enough through activity alone. Therefore, it is our responsibility to trim our residents’ hooves regularly to ensure their comfort and health! The headpiece is adjustable and comes with a sturdy plastic chain to avoid marking your sheep’s wool.

Conventional electrified fence systems rely on soil moisture to be effective. However, not all areas have the required moisture. Side Rails–This add-on is nice for training sheep to use a stand, but they are generally only available on more expensive stands. I’ve personally never had this feature, because when I was trimming sheep for show the last thing I wanted was to have them lean on a bar after I spent 30 minutes carding their wool and trimming them. So I consider it a bit of a luxury for farm work on your stand. Extra Features–There are many options for sheep stands, and while it’s tempting to buy the fanciest model with all of the bells and whistles, be honest with yourself about how often you plan to use your stand, and weigh the extra cost against investing in a new pair of sheep shears, or other useful equipment.

If possible, schedule routine hoof trims after heavy dew, rain, or snowfall – a sheep’s hooves are much softer and easier to trim after a day in moderately wet conditions (but be sure to avoid conditions that keep your residents’ hooves constantly wet). Very cold spells might not be the best time for hoof trimming because hooves can become very hard, making the trimming process more difficult. Tools And Supplies While at Iowa State University, Dr. Dan Morrical was responsible for educational programs in all areas of sheep production, ranging from nutrition, genetics, marketing and management. Research areas focused on applied projects in the areas of nutrition, forage utilization, genetics, out-of-season breeding and lamb survival.