Measurement and error of hoof horn growth rate in sheep

Shelton, John W.; Usherwood, N.M.; Wapenaar, Wendela; Green, Laura

doi:10.1017/s0021859611000748

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This also aligns with previous studies observing a higher frequency of wall overgrowth in front feet of sheep [12,15], although contrary to findings from [13]. Therefore, asymmetry in hoof conformation scores observed between front and back feet are unlikely to be due to differences in growth rates, considering no differences have been observed previously in sheep [8,40]. Interestingly, feet with clinical disease were more likely to have lower scores for wall overgrowth.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…It is widely recognised that wall overgrowth proceeds a non-weight bearing event, such as footrot infection [ 9 ]. Considering hoof horn grows approximately 3 mm per month [ 8 ], a lag time between clinical disease and wall overgrowth would occur, but due to the nature of this study, this could not be explored. Furthermore, lameness was uncommon in our sample of ewes, where the majority of affected sheep were only showing mild signs of footrot, so ewes were weight-bearing on affected feet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These processes act in synergy to harden horn tissue to provide mechanical strength essential for its role as the major weight bearing surface of the hoof. Wall horn grows continuously at approximately 3 mm per month [ 8 ], and its length is mediated by growth and wear; if growth is faster than wear, claws become overgrown [ 9 ]. Wall horn overgrowth is a common defect in sheep [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], typically presenting as an excess flap of horn part or fully covering the sole.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Insight into the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Three Distinct Hoof Conformation Traits in UK Commercial Sheep Flocks

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Roden

Phillips

et al. 2021

Veterinary Sciences

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Lameness in sheep continues to be a global health, welfare and economic concern. Damaged, misshapen or overgrown feet have the potential to cause lameness either directly, or indirectly. There is a lack of understanding of the predisposing factors for different hoof conformation traits in sheep. Our exploratory study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, three distinct hoof conformation traits relating to the sole and heel, hoof wall, and hoof wall overgrowth. Feet of 400 ewes from four UK commercial sheep farms were inspected at four time points across 12 months. For each conformation trait, a four-point ordinal system was used to score each individual claw, and foot-level scores were calculated. We present 92.4% of foot-level observations to be affected by ≥1 conformation traits. Whilst hoof conformation traits were correlated to some degree, a unique set of sheep-, foot- and farm-level factors were associated with each distinct conformation trait. We provide, for the first time, key insight into the multifaceted and multifactorial aetiology of hoof conformation in sheep, building upon previous landmark studies. Our results inform hypotheses for future prospective studies investigating the risk factors for adverse hoof conformation in sheep.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Insight into the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Three Distinct Hoof Conformation Traits in UK Commercial Sheep Flocks

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Roden

Phillips

et al. 2021

Veterinary Sciences

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“…In the current study, horn length was measured in relation to the sole, not the rate of growth, which requires detailed marking on the hoof horn ( Shelton et al., 2012 ). Measuring length in relation to sole rather than growth enables reporting of how the appearance of feet changed over the course of 10 months.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If wear is slower than growth, then hoof horn grows distal to the sole of the foot. Thus, sheep hoof horn is affected by floor type; in 21 healthy yearling ewes at pasture, hoof horn growth rate was 3.3 mm/month ( Shelton et al., 2012 ) while in five lambs and five ewes on concrete, hoof horn growth rates were 13.2 mm/month and 8.7 mm/month, respectively ( Dekker et al., 2005 ). It is also affected by temperature; Wheeler et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics and impact of footrot and climate on hoof horn length in 50 ewes from one farm over a period of 10 months

Smith

Green

Calvo-Bado

et al. 2014

The Veterinary Journal

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Footrot, including interdigital dermatitis, is caused by Dichelobacter nodosus cause the majority of lameness in sheep in the UK. Lame sheep often have overgrown hoof horn but recent evidence has indicated that trimming overgrown hoof horn increases recovery time, and that routine foot trimming of the flock does not reduce the prevalence or incidence of lameness. The objectives of this study were to investigate the temporal associations between hoof horn length, footrot and climate. Fifty multiparous ewes were monitored for 10 months. On eight occasions hoof horn length, foot lesions and body condition were recorded. At the first examination, ewes were assigned to one of two treatment groups. All ewes that became lame with footrot were treated at one time point per week, either by trimming hoof horn and applying a topical antibiotic spray or with parenteral antibiotic and topical antibiotic spray.Hoof horn length in ewes at pasture varied over the year and was associated with temperature and rainfall. New cases of footrot occurred all year round and were associated with prior prevalence of footrot in the flock and prior temperature and rainfall. Overgrown hoof horn did not precede lameness but occurred once the sheep were lame. One year of prompt treatment of footrot reduced the range in hoof horn length in the sheep in both treatment groups. At the end of the study the hoof lengths of ewes in both groups were not significantly different. On this farm, hoof horn length was self-regulating in both non-lame and treated lame sheep whether trimming was part of the treatment or not and there would have been no benefit from routine foot trimming of this flock.

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Physics of nail conditions: why do ingrown nails always happen in the big toes?

Rauch

Cherkaoui-Rbati

2014

Phys. Biol.

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Although surgical treatment of nail conditions can be traced back centuries to the writings of Paul Aegineta (625-690 AC), little is known about the physical laws governing nail growth. Such a poor understanding together with the increasing number of nail salons in the high street should raise legitimate concerns regarding the different procedures applied to nails. An understanding of the physics of nail growth is therefore essential to engage with human medicine and to understand the aetiology of nail conditions. In this context, a theory of nail plate adhesion, including a physical description of nail growth can be used to determine the transverse and longitudinal curvatures of the nail plate that are so important in the physical diagnosis of some nail conditions. As a result physics sheds light on: (a) why/how nails/hooves adhere strongly, yet grow smoothly; (b) why hoof/claw/nail growth rates are similar across species; (c) potential nail damage incurred by poor trimming; (d) the connection between three previously unrelated nail conditions, i.e. spoon-shaped, pincer and ingrown nails and; last but not least, (e) why ingrown nails occur preferentially in the big toes.

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Measurement and error of hoof horn growth rate in sheep

Cited by 9 publications

References 23 publications

New Insight into the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Three Distinct Hoof Conformation Traits in UK Commercial Sheep Flocks

New Insight into the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Three Distinct Hoof Conformation Traits in UK Commercial Sheep Flocks

Dynamics and impact of footrot and climate on hoof horn length in 50 ewes from one farm over a period of 10 months

Physics of nail conditions: why do ingrown nails always happen in the big toes?

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