Stories of the Heartland - April 2026 | Page 7

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clients anywhere from once or twice a year to once per week. Every year, thousands of cows in farms around central Minnesota – as well as the farmers that depend on their milk or meat – have Ackerman to thank for keeping them healthy and happy.

“ I have to get a feel for what environment the cows live in and how they are taken care of,” Ackerman said.“ I also have to adjust to each particular farm along with the different cow flow situations and personalities of each farmer in addition to their workers. Each farm is unique and cows act differently, especially on hoof trimming day. I have to adjust for all the different circumstances which includes the weather to keep myself and the cow safe.”

Ackerman’ s connection to cattle began very early into his childhood, as he grew up on a dairy farm where he had a front-row view of the importance of proper hoof care. Being a part of 4-H and showing cows at the Minnesota State Fair solidified his affinity for these bovine creatures. Later on, he studied agribusiness in college, taking a year to travel to many different farms and learn about what makes them work well. After graduation, he decided to come back to where he grew up in central Minnesota, learning the trade of hoof care through hands-on work with his older brother, networking with other trimmers and attending specialized classes

to solidify his technique. Over two decades later, Ackerman is still trimming and treating the hooves of cattle throughout the region, with no plans of slowing down.

Although many aspects of farming change depending on the time of year, Ackerman said cows need healthy hooves no matter the season, so work is always steady. However, he will adjust for barn conditions and farmer’ s schedules, moving into insulated barns in extremely cold temperatures.

Although Ackerman’ s careful treatment of each cow’ s hooves may most resemble a pedicure or manicure for a human, he explained how their hooves are very different from the feet of humans or paws of many other animals. While a human foot or paw of an animal such as a dog or cat can offer some protection from the elements, developing callouses with enough exposure to rough terrain, hooves are less flexible, harder surfaces that can withstand a great amount of exposure. Ackerman said that the closest kind of human healthcare to bovine hoof care actually isn’ t pedicures, but instead dental care, as both human teeth and cow hooves have hard exteriors that still require maintenance and treatment for them to stay healthy.

Despite hooves’ advantages to softer paws or feet, there are also drawbacks, as much like toenails or claws, hooves are constantly growing and require trimming for them to

not get out of hand( or hoof). Also, despite their higher tolerance for pain and tough terrain, cows and other hoofed animals can absolutely still feel pain in their hooves, which can result in limping, lameness and reduced weight and milk yields as well as problems with conceiving or giving birth.

For this reason, untreated hooves aren’ t only a problem for the cows in pain – they can result in hundreds of lost dollars for their farmers from decreased milk or meat yields, with the only option for a cow that has gone untreated for long enough sometimes being its culling.

One of the tools in Ackerman’ s arsenal to prevent these outcomes is his trusty hoof tester, a pincer-like instrument that he will gently apply to hooves to see if the cow has any reaction to it. If a cow responds with discomfort, such as heavier breathing, sounds of pain or squirming, Ackerman can tell that something is wrong with that hoof. From there, he can apply medicine and a wrap or block to treat the issue.

Ackerman has multiple different colors of wraps and blocks to choose from when using one on a hoof. Although he admitted that he can’ t really be sure what color any given cow prefers, he will still use the cow’ s perceived personality to pick one that he feels suits it best, likening it to a more indirect way of a pediatric patient picking out a

sticker at the doctor’ s office.

Working with the number of cows that he does, Ackerman said he can often tell how apprehensive or uncomfortable a cow entering the chute is. If a cow is anxious enough, it can become agitated and even aggressive, creating danger for both Ackerman and itself. To prevent this, Ackerman has learned how to create a calming environment for his bovine patients and knows how to approach each one with a technique he calls“ cow whispering.” In most cases, Ackerman is able to calm even the most rambunctious cows down. In fact, he said the entire experience of being laid on their side and taken care of is relaxing and rejuvenating to most cattle, likening it to a day at the spa.

Ackerman said he gets a great deal of satisfaction when a cow walks out of the chute looking healthier and happier than when it walked in. Despite the hard work, knowing that he’ s making a difference in the lives of these cattle and the livelihoods of their farmers makes the long days well worth it.

For more information or to book Nate’ s Hoof Care for trimming needs, Ackerman can be reached at his home phone at( 320) 393-3800 or his cell phone at( 320) 248-8619. More information can also be found on his website at https:// 2028ackerwya. wixsite. com / nates-hoof-care-1.

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