Hoof Hardness in Dairy Cows
The degree of hardness of your dairy cow’s hooves may influence the chances for injury or for claw disease. Continual exposure of claws to moisture will make their overall constitution soft. This relationship between claw hardness and hoof lesions indicates that dairy cattle with softer claws are at a greater risk for lameness.
Lesions in the claw are the most common visible pathology associated with lameness in the dairy cow. The quality of the cow’s hooves, especially their hardness, will influence the likelihood that the cow will suffer from hoof lesions. Although it is known that various factors including nutrition and genetics will affect claw quality, the environment in which the cow is housed is extremely important, and often overlooked.
Environmental effects on hoof quality include those caused by seasonal changes, types of walking surfaces, and the wetness of the claw. The resistance of the horn of the claw to environmental effects more than likely depends on the hardness of the claw. This is because claw hardness is the major influence of horn wear and erosion.
Prolonged exposure of the claw to water will reduces hardness of the horn of the claw making it more susceptible to disease. It is known that the water content of the horn of the claw is related negatively to its overall hardness. Dairy cattle housed on slatted flooring, which reduces exposure of the hoof to standing water, tend to have much harder, healthier, hooves.
Many dairymen believe, and rightly so, that this relationship puts their cows with wet claws at a higher risk of hoof lesions because the horn resistance is diminished.
The claw of the dairy cow absorbs water quickly when soaked. As the water is absorbed the claw becomes progressively softer, and this accelerates if the hoof is not allowed to dry out. Research shows that the claw absorbs water faster than it dries out. Regions of the claw also differ in hardness, the walls of the claw are the hardest, and the sole is the softest. Regardless, all aspects of the claw absorb water and become softer compromising the dairy cow’s ability to ward off hoof disease.
To reduce the chance of hoof/claw injuries, dairy cattle should be kept in conditions which allow their claws to stay as dry as possible.
Lesions in the claw are the most common visible pathology associated with lameness in the dairy cow. The quality of the cow’s hooves, especially their hardness, will influence the likelihood that the cow will suffer from hoof lesions. Although it is known that various factors including nutrition and genetics will affect claw quality, the environment in which the cow is housed is extremely important, and often overlooked.
Environmental effects on hoof quality include those caused by seasonal changes, types of walking surfaces, and the wetness of the claw. The resistance of the horn of the claw to environmental effects more than likely depends on the hardness of the claw. This is because claw hardness is the major influence of horn wear and erosion.
Prolonged exposure of the claw to water will reduces hardness of the horn of the claw making it more susceptible to disease. It is known that the water content of the horn of the claw is related negatively to its overall hardness. Dairy cattle housed on slatted flooring, which reduces exposure of the hoof to standing water, tend to have much harder, healthier, hooves.
Many dairymen believe, and rightly so, that this relationship puts their cows with wet claws at a higher risk of hoof lesions because the horn resistance is diminished.
The claw of the dairy cow absorbs water quickly when soaked. As the water is absorbed the claw becomes progressively softer, and this accelerates if the hoof is not allowed to dry out. Research shows that the claw absorbs water faster than it dries out. Regions of the claw also differ in hardness, the walls of the claw are the hardest, and the sole is the softest. Regardless, all aspects of the claw absorb water and become softer compromising the dairy cow’s ability to ward off hoof disease.
To reduce the chance of hoof/claw injuries, dairy cattle should be kept in conditions which allow their claws to stay as dry as possible.
posted by Daniel Montoya at 12:53 PM
1 Comments:
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