The principles of claw trimming.

Claw trimming allows one to interfere with the mechanical influences affecting the quick. The belief that a progressing pododermatitis is provoked by mechanical pressure is supported by the excellent preventive and therapeutic results of trimming that is performed in an expert manner. Experience has proved that good technique is necessary for attaining a satisfactory result. Remember that the possibilities of functional trimming are limited by the amounts of horn and by the environmental conditions. In other words, the importance of the protective function of the horny capsule should not be underestimated. To learn expert trimming, one needs to practice the technique under supervision. Learning the technique from a text appears to be insufficient; practical experience is necessary. If one is interested in establishing a training center, it is recommended that one contact the Practical Training Centre for Dairy Cattle and Grassland Management at Oenkerk (the Netherlands). It is important to remember that principles and technique are judged by the results, and poor results will be the consequence of a poor technique that can be attributed to insufficient education.