The Dutch Method
I don't just cut horn. I follow a 5-step geometric process to restore the natural balance of the foot.
Let's be honest: Hoof trimming is a dirty job. You are covered in muck, you are working with heavy animals, and in Scotland, you are usually getting rained on. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.
People often ask me how I stay motivated after doing thousands of cows. The answer is simple: Immediate gratification.
Farming is a long game. You breed a cow, and you wait two years to see if she milks well. You change the ration, and you wait weeks to see the bulk tank rise. But trimming? Trimming is instant.
The "Relief" Moment
When a cow comes in with a sole ulcer or a white line abscess, she is in genuine agony. It's like walking with a stone in your shoe, except you weigh 700kg and you can't take the shoe off.
When I lift that foot, find the pressure point, and relieve it—you can physically see the cow relax. Her breathing slows down. She stops fighting the crush. I apply the block to the healthy claw to lift the sore one off the ground, and she walks out.
Watching a cow that was hobbling five minutes ago trot off to the feed fence... that is what makes me happy. That is why I do this.
"I balance the foot, not just cut the horn. It's engineering with an understanding of biology."
The Heritage of Hoof Care
I’m a second-generation trimmer. My father taught me that the foot is the foundation of the cow. If the foot is wrong, the cow doesn't eat, she doesn't bull, and she doesn't milk.
There is a real pride in going back to the same farms year after year. I know the herds. I know which farms struggle with Digital Dermatitis and which ones have rough concrete (which is why I started my grooving business—to fix the problem at the source).
More Than Just "The Foot Man"
When I visit your farm, I’m looking at the whole picture.
- Is the concrete causing the bruising?
- Is the cubicle standing time causing the ulcers?
- Is the footbath protocol working?
My goal isn't just to trim the cows you put in front of me. It's to help you have fewer lame cows next time I visit. That might sound like a bad business model for me, but it's the only way to build trust.
A healthy herd makes a happy farmer. And honestly? It makes for a happy trimmer too.