As winter approaches and cattle are moved into housing, ensuring their comfort and well-being becomes essential to maintaining health and productivity. Clipping store cattle is a straightforward and effective practice that helps regulate body temperature and improves hygiene.
While clipping horses to manage sweat during exercise is common knowledge, cattle clipping is often overlooked. Yet, for many farmers and smallholders, it’s an essential part of preparing animals for winter housing. Not only does clipping aid in temperature regulation, but it’s also a proactive way to reduce disease risk and keep cattle clean.
Why Clip Store Cattle?
In the UK, clipping cattle—especially their backs—has become a routine practice for several good reasons:
- Temperature Control : Housing cattle indoors can lead to rising temperatures in sheds. Clipping thick coats allows heat to escape, preventing cattle from overheating. This is critical because excessive sweating can lead to pneumonia.
- Improved Comfort : Cooler, comfortable cattle conserve energy, which can then be used for weight gain and better feed efficiency rather than loosing energy through sweating trying to cool themselves down.
- Enhanced Hygiene : Tail clipping minimises dirt build-up, which is especially beneficial for cows nearing calving, improving udder hygiene.
- Pest Control : By removing thick coats, clipping also makes it harder for lice to thrive, thereby improving herd health. Clipping before applying lice treatments also helps the medication reach the skin more effectively.
Choosing The Best Cattle Clippers
- Masterclip Hunter Clipper : A 200W mains-powered clipper with a medium A2 blade, ideal for clipping backs and tails. It’s also available with an open-toothed A2 Livestock blade, suited to dirtier cattle.
Multi-Head Cattle Clippers : Perfect for multiple livestock types, this clipper offers both a traditional shearing and A2 head, suitable for sheep, llamas, alpacas, goats, cattle, and horses.
HD Roamer Cordless Clipper : A popular choice for flexibility. It’s compatible with a variety of premium A2 blades, ideal for backs, tails, and show clipping.
Cordless Outback Shears : Designed for very dirty cattle, these powerful cordless shears are also perfect for dagging and shearing large numbers of cattle or sheep.
How to Clip Store Cattle
Effective clipping can be achieved by following these steps:
Preparation : Make sure your clippers are in top condition—well-oiled, sharpened, and with proper tension. For Masterclip A2 clippers, set the tension by turning the tension knob anti-clockwise for three full turns from fully tightened. If using shears with a traditional shearing head, listen for the right tone. [Check out our YouTube video for more guidance].
Start with the Topline : With the cattle safely secure in the crush, begin by clipping along the base of the spine, making one pass along the length of the back. Add a few more passes on either side to clip around 5 cm from the spine.
Tail Clipping : Clipping the tail prevents dirt build-up, enhancing cleanliness. Start from the tail’s end and clip upwards. Gather any long hair in your fist and run the blade over the ends to even it out.
Regular Oiling : To maintain a clean finish and keep blades sharp, apply clipper oil to the clipper blades every five minutes. Andis 5-in-1 Cool Care spray is ideal for cleaning and disinfecting between animals, also helping to cool the blades. A few drops of oil in the clipper head holes keeps internal components lubricated and reduces motor strain.
Benefits of Cattle Clipping
- Reduced Pneumonia Risk : Clipping helps cattle stay cool, reducing the chance of pneumonia, particularly when combined with vaccinations and good ventilation.
- Enhanced Growth Rates : Comfortable cattle conserve energy, contributing to better weight gains and feed intake.
- Cleaner Cattle : Clipping keeps fattening cattle clean, with a mid-winter re-clip helping manage regrowth and maintaining these benefits.
When to Clip
Ideally, clip cattle at housing to minimise stress. For those with especially thick coats, a mid-winter re-clip can help maintain temperature control and hygiene. If cattle are indoors for long periods, clipping the tails is also recommended.
Precautions
Remember, cattle aren’t always compliant and may find clipping stressful. Using an RCD safety adaptor adds an extra level of safety, as it detects electrical faults and stops the clippers if needed. Cordless models offer freedom of movement, and extra batteries ensure a constant power supply.
Summary
Clipping store cattle is a simple yet effective practice for boosting comfort, health, and productivity during winter housing. With the right equipment and technique, you can ensure your cattle remain in top condition all season long. Here are three key benefits:
Improved Temperature Regulation : Prevents overheating and lowers pneumonia risk.
Enhanced Cleanliness and Hygiene : Keeps cattle cleaner and reduces pest issues.
Boosted Growth and Feed Efficiency : Comfortable cattle can better utilise energy for weight gain.
Browse our range of cattle clippers and accessories or feel free to contact us for tailored advice on selecting the best tools for your livestock needs.
