HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van Amstel, S. R. Articles by Palin, F. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van Amstel, S. R. Articles by Palin, F. L.

Moisture Content, Thickness, and Lesions of Sole Horn Associated with Thin Soles in Dairy Cattle

¹ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, PO Box 1071, Knoxville 37901-1071
² Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100136, Gainesville 32610-0136
³ Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, University Plaza, Atlanta 30303-3083

Corresponding author: S. R. van Amstel; e-mail: svanamst{at}utk.edu.

Thin soles and resulting lameness are often associated with increased culling rates in large dairy operations. The moisture content of the sole horn may cause the horn to be softer, thus predisposing it to an increased rate of wear. For that reason, the first objective of this study was to determine the moisture content of the sole horn of thin-soled cows. The second objective was to document physical changes of the claw associated with thin soles. Twenty-six adult Holstein cows showing signs of thin soles, and 16 normal cows were used in the study. Selection criteria for thin-soled cows included a dorsal wall length of less than 7.5 cm and the following clinical signs: painful gait, arched back, and specific leg lameness. Sixteen normal adult cows with dorsal wall length in excess of 7.5 cm were randomly selected. For thin-soled cows, the moisture contents of sole horn were 37.1 ± 0.7% for front claws and 40.5 ± 0.7% for rear claws. These values were significantly different from each other. Moisture contents of sole horn from normal cows were 31.08 ± 0.93% for front claws and 33.1 ± 0.9% for rear claws, which were significantly different from each other and different from thin-soled cows. Rear claws had higher moisture contents than front claws. Mean sole horn thickness was 4.23 ± 0.18 mm for the rear lateral claws and 5.15 ± 0.18 mm for the rear medial claws. The average dorsal wall lengths were 66.8 ± 3.94 mm for rear lateral claws and 69.1 ± 7.25 mm for rear medial claws. Thirty percent of rear feet with thin soles had pathological claw horn lesions including sole/white line separation (72%) and sole ulcers (28%). Of the affected claws, 13% had more than one lesion. Seventy-seven percent of claw lesions occurred in the lateral claw.

Key Words: moisture content • sole thickness • lameness

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Nikkhah, J. C. Plaizier, M. S. Einarson, R. J. Berry, S. L. Scott, and A. D. Kennedy Short Communication: Infrared Thermography and Visual Examination of Hooves of Dairy Cows in Two Stages of Lactation J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2005; 88(8): 2749 - 2753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]