Claws carry the milk! This statement makes it clear that only healthy claws contribute to an optimal milk production. Depending on the severity of the claw problems, the cow has to endure pain and the milk produce is reduced in any case.
Regular and correct claw care is therefore of enormous importance for the cow's well-being and the dairy farmer's wallet. Research has shown that claw problems are one of the leading causes of dairy cow deaths. The average cost, depending on the severity of the problems, is up to € 300.00 per cow.
Claw care must always be done by a trained person with suitable tools. It is an individual decision whether the dairy farmer is trained in seminars and does the claw care himself or lets professional claw caretakers take the lead.
The essential phases of claw care (often described as 5- or 6-phase models) are cutting the claws to the correct size, creating a concavity, exposing lesions and applying reliefs (elevations on the healthy partner claw).