CLINICAL REVIEW KLINIESE OORSIG

Inadequate thickness of the weight-bearing surface of claws in ruminants

A S Shakespeare

Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa. E-mail: tony.shakespeare@up.ac.za

ABSTRACT

The term 'thin soles' refers to the suboptimal thickness of the weight-bearing surface of claws in ruminants. These palmar/plantar surfaces of the claws support the weight of the animal and consist of the distal wall horn, the sole proper, the heel and the minute white line area. The sole should normally only bear weight on uneven or undulating surfaces. A decrease in the thickness of the weight-bearing claw surface will decrease the protective function of this structure and may alter the proportion of weight-bearing by each section with possible detrimental effects on hoof function. Horn tissue readily absorbs water and becomes softer which can lead to increased wear rates. Growth rates normally match wear rates but, unlike the latter, time is needed for the growth rate response to adapt to changes in wear rate. Concrete surfaces can be abrasive and dairy cows that spend their lactation cycle on these floors should be let out to pasture in the dry period so that their claws can recoup lost horn. Frictional coefficient is a measure of the 'slipperiness' of hooves on various surfaces. Newly laid or fresh concrete is not only abrasive but the thin surface suspension of calcium hydroxide that forms has a very alkaline pH which causes keratin degradation and is mostly responsible for the excessive claw wear that occurs. Four case studies are used to illustrate the importance of the distal wall horn, the dangers of over-trimming and the effects of disease and concrete on horn growth and wear rates.

Keywords: concrete, distal wall horn, frictional coefficient, growth rate, wear rate, weight-bearing surface

“Full text available only in PDF format”

REFERENCES

1. Bean W B 1963 Nail growth. A twenty-year study. Archives of Internal Medicine 111: 476-482        [ Links ]

2. Blowey R W 1993 Cattle lameness and hoof care. Farming Press, Ipswich, UK        [ Links ]

3. Blowey R W, Shearer J K 2002 Claw trimming - how should it be done? A comparison of two approaches. Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Lameness in Ruminants, Orlando, Florida, USA, 9-13 January 2002: 122-126        [ Links ]

4. Bonser R H C, Farrent, Taylor A M 2003 Assessing the frictional and abrasion-resisting properties of hooves and claws. Bio-systems Engineering 86: 253-256        [ Links ]

5. Borderas T F, Pawluczuk B, de Passille A M, Rushen J 2004 Clawhardness of dairy cows: relationship to water content and claw lesions. Journal of Dairy Science 87: 2085-2093        [ Links ]

6. Burgi K 2008 Multiple reasons for short claws and thin soles. Dairyland Hoof Institute Inc., Baraboo, USA, March: 1-2        [ Links ]

7. Frank A, Opsomer G, de Kruif A, De Belie N 2007 Frictional interactions between bovine claw and concrete floor. Biosystems Engineering 96: 565-580        [ Links ]

8. Greenough P R 2007 Bovine laminitis and lameness. A hands-on approach. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia USA        [ Links ]

9. Gregory N, Craggs L, Hobson N, Krogh C 2006 Softening of cattle hoof soles and swelling of heel horn by environmental agents. Food and Chemical Toxicology 44: 1223-1227        [ Links ]

10. Hahn M V, McDaniel B T, Wilk J C 1986 Rates of hoof growth and wear in Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 69: 2148-2156        [ Links ]

11. Higuchi H, Nagahata H 2001 Relationship between serum biotin concentration and moisture content of the sole horn in cows with clinical laminitis or sound claws. Veterinary Record 148: 209-210        [ Links ]

12. Higuchi H, Maeda T, Kawai K, Kuwano A, Kasamatsu M, Nagahata H 2003 Physiological changes of biotin in the serum and milk and in he physical properties of the claw horn in Holstein. Veterinary Research Communications 27: 407-413        [ Links ]

13. Hood D M, Swenson C K, Johnson A B 2002 Building the equine hoof. Zinpro Corporation Publication, Eden Praire, USA        [ Links ]

14. Mulling C K, Bragulla H H, Reese S, Budras K D, Steinberg W 1999 How structures in bovine claw epidermis are influenced by nutritional factors. Anatomia Histolologia Embryologia: Journal of Veterinary Medicine C 28: 103-108        [ Links ]

15. Prentice D E 1973 Growth and wear rates of hoof horn in Ayrshire cattle. Research in Veterinary Science 14: 285-290        [ Links ]

16. Shearer J, Van Amstel S, Gonzalez A 2005 Manual of foot care in cattle. Hoard's Dairyman, D Hoards and Sons, Fort Atkinson, USA        [ Links ]

17. Thompson P N 1998 Osteitis of the apex of the third phalanx following foot trimming in a dairy cow. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 69: 23-26        [ Links ]

18. Toussaint-Raven E 1973 The principles of claw trimming. Symposium on Bovine Lameness and Orthopedics. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 1: 93-107        [ Links ]

19. Van Amstel S S, Shearer J K, Palin F L 2005 Thin soles in dairy cattle: characterization of the problem. In Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Forum of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, June 4: 848        [ Links ]

20. Van Amstel S R, Shearer J K, Palin F L 2004 Moisture content, thickness and lesions of the sole horn associated with thin soles in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 87: 757-763        [ Links ]

21. Van der Tol R 2004 Biomechanical aspects of the claw-floor interaction in dairy cattle Implications for locomotion and claw disorders. Thesis, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht        [ Links ]

22. Vermunt J J, Greenough P R 1995 Structural characteristics of the bovine claw: horn growth and wear, horn hardness and claw conformation. British Veterinary Journal 151: 157-180        [ Links ]

Received: June 2009
Accepted: September 2009