Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming

The aim was to describe variation in length of the dorsal hoof wall in contact with the dermis for cows on a single farm, and hence, derive minimum appropriate claw lengths for routine foot trimming. The hind feet of 68 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were collected post mortem, and the internal struct...

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Main Authors: Archer, Simon C., Newsome, Reuben, Dibble, Harry, Sturrock, Craig, Chagunda, M.G.G., Mason, C.S., Huxley, Jonathan
Format: Article
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2015
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29505/
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author Archer, Simon C.
Newsome, Reuben
Dibble, Harry
Sturrock, Craig
Chagunda, M.G.G.
Mason, C.S.
Huxley, Jonathan
author_facet Archer, Simon C.
Newsome, Reuben
Dibble, Harry
Sturrock, Craig
Chagunda, M.G.G.
Mason, C.S.
Huxley, Jonathan
author_sort Archer, Simon C.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The aim was to describe variation in length of the dorsal hoof wall in contact with the dermis for cows on a single farm, and hence, derive minimum appropriate claw lengths for routine foot trimming. The hind feet of 68 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were collected post mortem, and the internal structures were visualised using x-ray mCT. The internal distance from the proximal limit of the wall horn to the distal tip of the dermis was measured from crosssectional sagittal images. A constant was added to allow for a minimum sole thickness of 5 mm and an average wall thickness of 8 mm. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and two-level linear regression models with claw nested within cow. Based on 219 claws, the recommended dorsal wall length from the proximal limit of hoof horn was up to 90 mm for 96 per cent of claws, and the median value was 83 mm. Dorsal wall length increased by 1 mm per year of age, yet 85 per cent of the null model variance remained unexplained. Overtrimming can have severe consequences; the authors propose that the minimum recommended claw length stated in training materials for all Holstein-Friesian cows should be increased to 90 mm.
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spelling nottingham-295052020-05-04T17:12:20Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29505/ Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming Archer, Simon C. Newsome, Reuben Dibble, Harry Sturrock, Craig Chagunda, M.G.G. Mason, C.S. Huxley, Jonathan The aim was to describe variation in length of the dorsal hoof wall in contact with the dermis for cows on a single farm, and hence, derive minimum appropriate claw lengths for routine foot trimming. The hind feet of 68 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were collected post mortem, and the internal structures were visualised using x-ray mCT. The internal distance from the proximal limit of the wall horn to the distal tip of the dermis was measured from crosssectional sagittal images. A constant was added to allow for a minimum sole thickness of 5 mm and an average wall thickness of 8 mm. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and two-level linear regression models with claw nested within cow. Based on 219 claws, the recommended dorsal wall length from the proximal limit of hoof horn was up to 90 mm for 96 per cent of claws, and the median value was 83 mm. Dorsal wall length increased by 1 mm per year of age, yet 85 per cent of the null model variance remained unexplained. Overtrimming can have severe consequences; the authors propose that the minimum recommended claw length stated in training materials for all Holstein-Friesian cows should be increased to 90 mm. BMJ Publishing Group 2015-07-28 Article PeerReviewed Archer, Simon C., Newsome, Reuben, Dibble, Harry, Sturrock, Craig, Chagunda, M.G.G., Mason, C.S. and Huxley, Jonathan (2015) Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming. Veterinary Record . ISSN 0042-4900 http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/early/2015/07/28/vr.103197 doi:10.1136/vr.103197 doi:10.1136/vr.103197
spellingShingle Archer, Simon C.
Newsome, Reuben
Dibble, Harry
Sturrock, Craig
Chagunda, M.G.G.
Mason, C.S.
Huxley, Jonathan
Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
title Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
title_full Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
title_fullStr Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
title_full_unstemmed Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
title_short Claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
title_sort claw length recommendations for dairy cow foot trimming
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29505/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29505/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29505/