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Changes in the mechanical properties and the lesion score of the sole horn in first lactation heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

B. Winkler  and
J. K. Margerison
B. Winkler*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture Food and Land Use, Seale - Hayne Faculty, Plymouth University, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6NQ, U.K.
J. K. Margerison
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture Food and Land Use, Seale - Hayne Faculty, Plymouth University, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6NQ, U.K.
*
[email protected]
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Extract

The start of the lactation period is related to an increase in the number and severity of claw horn lesions on dairy cows and heifers (Offer et al., 2000). Heifers have important physiological differences, presenting a different pattern of lesion formation when compared to cows (Offer et al., 2000). The rearing of heifers, their growth rate, feeding and the occurrence of foot problems have an influence over the health of their feet when the animals get older (Thomas et a., 1999). The objective of this experiment was to study the pattern of lesion formation of the sole horn in the pre- and postpartum period of first calving heifers and to compare it to mechanical tests.

Type
ISAE
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2003 , 2003 , pp. 33
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

Offer, J.E.; McNulty, D.N. and Logue, D.N. (2000). Observations of lameness, hoof conformation and development of lesions in dairy cattle over four lactations. The Veterinary Record 147: 105–109.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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Winkler, B.; Margerison, JK and Brennan, C. The testing of mechanical properties of the hoof horn during lactation and housing. Proceedings of the 12th Int Symposium on Lameness in Ruminants, Orlando, January, 2002, p.314.Google Scholar