In bovine podiatry, a cowslip is a tough plastic shoe used to treat lameness in cattle.
It is applied onto the healthy claw (one side of the cloven hoof) with glue and allowed to set.
The cowslip will slough in about 4–6 weeks and this is a principal advantage over a nail-on shoe which needs to be actively removed.
The outer layer of the healthy and clean claw can also be ground lightly to provide a rough surface for the glue to adhere to.
In cold climates, a hairdryer can be used whilst applying the glue to allow it to set quicker ( 1–2 minutes).