The Biomechanics of Weight Bearing, its Significance with Lameness, the Role of Hoof Trimming

Dairy cows are exposed on a daily basis to housing conditions that influence the physiological function of the claws. Stress and improper feeding management practices predispose to metabolic changes and coriosis. The high concentration of animals makes cows walk on their own faeces and predisposes them to the chemical action of manure slurry and putrefactive bacterial growth. Confinement on hard concrete surfaces causes an abnormal concentration of weight on certain points of the claw’s weight bearing surface. The lack of exercise of confined cows influences the horn growth and wear rate. Finally, certain animals have a genetic predisposition to abnormalities of claw conformation. The interrelationship of these factors lead to irritation and changes in the normal shape of claws which leads to mechanical disorders in physiology of stance and locomotion. Weight bearing ...