Application of Ultrasonographic Imaging to Determine Sole Horn Thickness in the Bovine Claw

Abstract

Maintaining adequate sole horn thickness is becoming an important consideration in lameness prevention in large dairy operations. Due to a number of managemental, nutritional and environmental factors, the rate of wear often exceeds the rate of sole horn growth. This situation is often exacerbated by poor claw trimming techniques, resulting in overly thin soles predisposing to lameness. Non-invasive determination of sole thickness have been dependant on indirect methods, including a) compression of the sole horn using finger pressure or hoof testers, b) using a correlation between dorsal wall length and sole thickness, and c) using the white line as a guide to determine sole depth. The use of ultrasound to determine sole depth has been described using cadaver feet. This has not been used in live cattle. The purpose of this study is a) to test the method in live dairy cows and b) to evaluate sole thickness in cows that have been trimmed according to the method described by Toussaint Raven, also referred to as the Dutch method.