Growth and Wear of the Bovine and Bubaline Claw under South-brazilian Conditions

Worldwide there have been conducted several studies to understand the growth and wear of the bovine claw (CLARK & RAKES 1982; HAHN et al. 1986; Tranter & Morris 1992; Vermunt & Greenough 1995; DISTL et al. 1996; LIVESEY et al. 1998; SOMERS et al. 2005). Measurements of growth and wear of the bovine claw in Brazil are rare (Ollhoff & Ortolani, 2001) and nearly inexistent under field conditions. Furthermore, in the researched literature we were unable to find data related to the bubaline claw. We are able to state, that this is the first study of growth and wear using the water-buffalo in Brazil. In order to understand growth and wear of the claw, it is fundamental to build up diagnosis and prognosis of digital lesions and surgical interventions on the claw (Toussaint Raven, 1989). Extreme environmental conditions affect the growth and wear rate (Pflug, 1978 apud Rosenberger, 1990; Landerer et al. 1998). The bubaline claw seems to have intrinsic characteristics to resist ...