Steve started trimming our cows shortly after my husband started dairy-farming in 2009. Over the years, we have spent time with his family at the local fair. His kids have been life savers when it comes to learning all the ins & outs of showing. I am excited to share his story as well as highlight the importance of hoof care and how serious dairy farmers take hoof care from a hoof trimmer’s perspective.
- When was your hoof business established?
My start in the dairy industry started as a kid on my parent’s dairy farm in Western Washington.
They sold the cows in April 1976 when I was in the fourth grade. I miss it. Immediately, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. While being in 4-H as a kid, then FFA in High School, I raised and owned 40 head of Jersey, Ayrshire, and Holstein heifers. I sold them as fresh heifers to local dairymen. Working Full time for my Aunt and Uncle milking and feeding their cows from the time I was in the 7th grade through high school and for five years after graduating. I was still buying and selling replacement heifers. In September 1988 I started my own diary in Western Washington. I operated it for 8 years. Then I had the opportunity to run a 2,000 head Custom Heifer Feedlot in Othello, Washington, so I packed up my young family went to Eastern Washington. I ran the heifer lot for five years which I really enjoyed. An Opportunity came available for me to run a 200 cow dairy. I was back to my true love of milking cows again. I moved to N.E. Washington to the small town in October 2000 to run and manage Fair Tomorrow Farms. I decided to get into hoof trimming in 2009 because we need a trimmer in the area. The two trimmers that had been coming to the area retired and left the area without a trimmer. So in May of 2009, I went to Dairyland Hoof Care Institute taking a course on hoof trimming. I came back and started my hoof trimming career as a second income while still managing the dairy. The sold out in May 2010, I then took a job at Boise Cascade Lumber and still did hoof trimming part-time. In February 2015, I bought Hoof Biz, Inc. from Ron Kummerfeldt to go trimming full-time.
- How many dairy farms do you work with?
I currently trim at 32 dairies ranging from 30 cows to 350 cows. I also trim some small beef herds in N.E. Washington.
- If you had to guess, how many clients (cows) do you work on each year?
I trim roughly 4,500 cows twice a year between the Washington and Montana Farms.
- Why is hoof care so important in dairy cattle?
With cows being confined in facilities and high protein rations for milk production. Cow need trimmed twice a year to maintain good healthy cows.
- What are some preventative measures farmers take to keep their cows hooves healthy?
Cleaning and removing manure from housing twice daily. A good foot bath program with copper sulfate weekly will keep the hooves hard on concrete.
- What are some hoof issues you work on & how do you treat them?
There is really two issue that most hoof trimmers deal with, hairy heel warts and sole ulcers. Hairy heel wart can be treated with a topical antibiotic and vinegar mixture, sprayed on the heel. Most sole ulcers can be prevented by use of foot bath and functional trimming twice a year (Some cows need trimmed three times a year).
- Anything else you would like to add that consumers would find useful or interesting?
On the 32 dairies that I trim roughly 9,000 cows, only 1% -2% of the cows may show lameness. That tells me that are dairy farmers take great pride in producing high quality milk. With top quality husbandry for their cows!
I’m a father of 5 kids ranging in age from 22 to 4. My wife and I are 4-H leaders and have been for last 10 years and have married for 23 years.
Krista Stauffer
Latest posts by Krista Stauffer (see all)
- Ensuring Quality and Safety: The Rigorous Inspection and Testing of Washington State Dairy Farms - May 6, 2024
- Understanding the National Dairy FARM Program: Ensuring Excellence in Dairy Farming - April 29, 2024
- The Importance of Nutrient Management Plans for Washington State Dairy Farms - April 17, 2024
- Homeschooling on the Farm: Cultivating Learning in a Rich Environment - April 11, 2024
