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How to trim the forelimb claws – claw loads with different sole heights
Karl Nuss
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Introduction
The emphasis of claw trimming textbooks and practical claw trimming courses is on trimming the hind limb claws. Forelimb claws are rarely mentioned for two reasons: Firstly, the prevalence of claw horn lesions is much lower in the forelimbs than in the hind limbs, and secondly, not much is known about the biomechanics and thus proper functional trimming of the forelimb claws. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine loading of the front limbs claws and to examine the effect of two different trimming procedures on functional offloading of the medial claw.
Materials and Methods
The vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) exerted on the forelimb claws were measured in 30 non-lame dairy cows during square standing. Three different situations were created and evaluated: The claws were trimmed to the same sole height (procedure 1); 3-mm wooden blocks were temporarily attached to both lateral claws (procedure 2), and then 3-mm wooden blocks were attached to both medial claws of the forelimbs (procedure 3) to simulate the effect of different sole heights.
Results
With even sole heights (procedure 1), a mean of 70% of the vGRF of the forelimbs was transferred to the medial claws. With a 3-mm wooden block attached to both lateral claws (procedure 2), the vGRF was evenly distributed between the lateral and medial claws. With procedure 3, a mean of 83% of the vGRF of the forelimbs was transferred to the medial claws.
Conclusions
In square-standing routinely trimmed cows, most of the vGRF acting on the forelimbs was exerted on the medial claws, which is in accordance with earlier studies (van der Tol et al. 2002, Cardona Gavaldon et al., 2015). To achieve even weight distribution between the lateral and medial claw of the forelimbs with functional trimming, the sole of the lateral claw should be left approximately 3 mm higher than that of the medial claw. A difference in height > 3 mm of the soles of may be necessary to achieve more load reduction in the medial claws.
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About
Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication
Farm Animal Surgery Section, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich, Switzerland * E-mail: karl.nuss@uzh.ch
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