Lameness is one the most important problems in dairy herds and a major cause of financial loss and pain and discomfort to animals. Different surveys have revealed that most lameness causing lesions in cattle originate in the claw and in order to better understand the cl More
Lameness is one the most important problems in dairy herds and a major cause of financial loss and pain and discomfort to animals. Different surveys have revealed that most lameness causing lesions in cattle originate in the claw and in order to better understand the claw disorders, one has to have good understanding of the anatomic structure, horn characteristics, and biomechanics of the claw. The claw is a direct product of the underlying living tissue and different factors affect the rate of horn growth and wear. Here, we aim to review the different factors effecting the horn growth and wear, weight bearing, and biomechanics of the claw.
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Bovine hoof with its fine structures and accurate function is used for routine locomotion. This part of common integument has special characteristics to carry on a very high resistance to external/internal stimuli. Production and components of different parts of this sm More
Bovine hoof with its fine structures and accurate function is used for routine locomotion. This part of common integument has special characteristics to carry on a very high resistance to external/internal stimuli. Production and components of different parts of this small region vary and its variation in origin of production makes different protection against systemic disturbances or external/internal forces. Variation among species like cattle and horse limbs, expected performance (confinement and milk production versus athletic performance) and metabolic pressure on each animal results in different outcomes after hoof pathologies. For example, unlike horse, in cattle sinking of 3rd phalanx is more pronounced in the heel region. Horn capsule with its firm, sensitive and complex structure tries to neutralize the forces to which the limb is subjected. Any abnormality in hoof capsule vital tissues is a beginning for claw horn disruption lesion (CHDL) in a dairy farm. There are many hypotheses aiming to describe CHDL pathogenesis. No longer is it acceptable to believe that SARA = Subclinical laminitis. The disorder cannot be managed simply from a nutritional perspective and is Multifactorial. With better understanding of each part of this complex structure and the processes that occur after damage, a better understanding of the physiopathology of hoof capsule injuries is obtained.
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