Specimen Preparation: Cow Hoof 🌿🐄

My first taxidermy find and preparation of 2026! I found it while walking home in my Sheffield neighbourhood, I discovered a cow hoof—half hoof, whole claw—likely discarded from an animal or someone making stock or curry. The specimen was surprisingly clean, with a tiny woodlouse resting inside, which I gently relocated before bringing the hoof indoors for its first hot water rinse.

To start the cleaning process, I soaked the hoof in a sealed container with fragrance-free soap and hot water for a couple of days, allowing gentle degreasing and natural sterilisation. Once fully dried, I applied two thin layers of my new archival acrylic varnish to both enhance its natural texture and provide lasting protection. When the varnish dried, I displayed the hoof on my taxidermy shelf, where it joins my growing collection and is a reflection of my passion for natural history and archival process.

🧰 Materials and Equipment:

• 🐮 Cow Hoof Half, Whole Claw

• 🧼 Hot water and fragrance-free soap for degreasing

• 🪥 Toothbrushes and scrubbing tools

• 🧻 Towel for drying

• 🧴 Archival Acid-Free Acrylic Varnish Matte (to seal and protect surfaces)

• 🫙 Soaking containers and cleaning equipment

• 🧤 Gloves and safety gear for handling

⚙️ Preparation Process:

Step One: Degreasing and Sterilisation -

• 🫧 Initial Soaking: The hoof is soaked overnight in hot, soapy water to gently degrease and sterilise.

• 🪥 Primary Scrubbing: Thorough brushing with a toothbrush removed remaining debris and residue.

Step Two: Varnishing -

• 🎨 Protective Coating: I applied two thin layers of archival, acid-free acrylic varnish to enhance the hoof’s natural texture, seal the surface, and protect against dust, moisture, and pests—combining beauty with sustainable care.

Bovine hoof claw (keratin), rear foot, likely lateral claw - Sheffield, South Yorkshire - Found: 20/01/2026

Key Skills Developed:

• 🔬 Technical Laboratory Skills – Handling a larger specimen like a cow hoof required adapting cleaning techniques, mastering multi-stage degreasing, and safely using chemical whitening agents. This hands-on process sharpened my attention to detail and methodical approach.

• 🔍 Specimen Analysis – Working with a sizeable keratin specimen taught me to tailor methods to scale, maintain museum-quality standards, and document each step for reproducibility and ongoing care.

• 👐 Conservation & Preservation – Thorough degreasing prevented odours and supported long-term preservation, while careful drying and handling ensured the specimen’s stability and aesthetic integrity.

• 🏛️ Museum-Relevant Skills – Aligning my methods with professional collections care standards deepened my understanding of preventive conservation and respectful object handling, preparing specimens suitable for exhibition or study.

• 🧩 Problem-Solving – Challenges like persistent residue and limited tools encouraged creative adaptations, reinforcing resilience and flexibility—key qualities in both heritage and sustainable care work.

• 💪 Professional Growth – This multi-day process nurtured patience, confidence, and safety awareness, enriching my capability to care for diverse natural specimens with integrity and compassion.

This first cow hoof preparation of 2026 is an important step forward in a journey rooted in respect for nature’s stories and expanding my experience and my Natural History specialism in museums. Each specimen I care for links past and present, science and art, life and legacy. By embracing careful, compassionate methods, I honour the dignity of these natural treasures and contribute to a culture of thoughtful preservation that values every part of our shared heritage.

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💀 See more on my Instagram: @BonesByShannon 🪲

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