The Effect of Hoof Trimming on Dairy Cow Gait, Assessed by Three-Dimensional Acceleration Sensing

This experiment assessed the effect of hoof trimming on dairy cow gait using a 3-D acceleration sensor (3DAS). In experiment 1, gaits of 17 cows in a loose housing system were measured once during the month before, once during the month after and once 2 months after professional hoof trimming. Cows were led for 20 m with 3DAS attached to the end of their thoracic vertebrae. Image analysis was also used to assess the reliability of 3DAS measurement.
For the analysis, markers were attached to the body surface at major skeletal joints of the cows, and they were videotaped while walking. In experiment 2, gaits of 6 Holstein cows were measured once the day after professional hoof trimming.
Cows followed by an experimenter were encouraged to walk for 9 m with 3DAS attached to the ankle ...