Shoe Application Research Articles

Slurry 15NH4-N recovery in herbage and soil: effects of application method and timing

The effects of slurry application method and weather conditions after application on ammonia volatilisation are well documented, however, the effect on slurry N recovery in herbage is less evident due to large variability of results. The objective of this field experiment was to determine the recovery of cattle slurry NH4-N in herbage and soil in the year of application as affected by application method (trailing shoe versus broadcast) and season of application (spring versus summer), using 15N as a tracer. In 2007 and 2008, 15N enriched slurry was applied on grassland plots. N recovery in herbage and soil during the year of application was determined. Both spring and trailing shoe application resulted in significantly higher herbage DM yields, N uptake and an increased recovery of 15NH4-N in herbage. Additionally, the recovery of slurry 15NH4-N in the soil at the end of the growing season was increased. Spring and trailing shoe application reduced the losses of slurry 15NH4-N by on average 14 and 18 percentage points, respectively, which corresponded closely to ammonia volatilisation as predicted by the ALFAM model. It was concluded that slurry N recovery in temperate pasture systems can be increased by adjusting the slurry application method or timing.

Relationship between wear rate and mechanical fatigue in sliding TPU–metal contacts

The present paper reports the process for obtaining a law of wear by friction that reproduces the behaviour of a contact pair between a guide shoe insert, made of TPU, and the corresponding guide, made of steel, in a lift guide shoe application. After an initial identification of the TPU wear type as fatigue wear, the wear law is fitted from tests carried out in a tribometer, obtaining a relationship between the TPU worn volume and two fundamental variables: the travelled distance and the applied load. Archard's law, a relationship commonly used by many authors in the literature, is taken as a starting point, analysing its validity in this case and proposing an improved fitting by means of a potential law.Additionally, in order to analyse in depth the physical phenomena that guide the wear process present in the contact pair under study, and corroborating what was stated by the law fitted previously, the wear process is studied by means of observations by SEM and confocal microscopy by finite element simulations at micro-level, analysing the interaction between material and countermaterial. The results from these analyses are compared with conclusions stated by several authors in the literature in similar studies of other polymers. Finally, this study is completed with an analysis of the analogy between wear and mechanical fatigue, relating both phenomena, in order to confirm the assertion stated in previous studies: the wear process in TPU occurs as a result of repeated crack propagation in the subsurface layer of the material at small scale.

A New Approach for the Treatment of Metatarsalgia

The triple Weil osteotomy is a logical and effective way to treat different kinds of mechanical metatarsalgia. With greater experience, the surgery is done quickly and with appreciable results. Appropriate indication and surgical planning are mandatory prerequisites for the procedure to success. Realizing the mechanical limits of the technique ensures proper clinical outcome. Although internal fixation supports stability, overall rigidity of the construct is achieved by careful postoperative care including postoperative dressing and stiff-soled shoe application.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Flexural Deformities in Foals

Flexural deformities represent deviations in the sagittal plane. They are divided into contractural and hyperextension deformities either congenital or developmental in origin. Diagnosis is usually straightforward and should lead to immediate treatment to prevent secondary complications. Inherited factors such as rapid growth response to high energy nutrition play an important role in the development of the problems; balancing nutritional intake is the key in the prevention of flexural deformities. While congenital contractural deformities are usually managed either by medical means (oxytetracyline IV) or application of special shoes (toe extensions), digital hyperextension deformities are usually handled through swimming exercise or the application of heel extensions—surgical intervention is rarely indicated. Surgical intervention is in most cases the treatment of choice in developmental contractural deformities—desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon for deformities of the distal interphalangeal joint and desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon.

The use of felt deflective padding in the management of plantar hallux and forefoot ulcers in patients with diabetes

Background Foot ulceration in diabetes is precipitated and perpetuated by many factors, chiefly peripheral neuropathy and biomechanical abnormalities. Offloading of plantar pressure is a key element in the management of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers with different techniques available to achieve this. Felt deflective padding (or accommodative padding) with an aperture over the ulcer site has been shown to reduce pressure. Objectives To determine whether the application of felt deflective padding (FDP) to the skin is more effective in healing ulcers than using the same padding within the shoe and secondly, whether similar rates of closure are achievable for hallux ulcers and forefoot ulcers treated with FDP. Method Patients presenting with plantar neuropathic ulcers of the forefoot or hallux were randomised to receive FDP applied to their skin or footwear. The rate of wound closure was determined from calculation of wound area obtained by counting over a grid. Data were analysed with respect to the type of padding used and the site of the ulcer. Results Thirty-two patients continued for 4 weeks or until healing. Patient's ages, duration of diabetes, ulcer size and neuropathy status were similar between the skin and shoe groups. Similar rates of wound closure were achieved when the padding was applied to the skin and the shoe ( z = 0.02, p = 0.9) and when the hallux ulcers and forefoot ulcers were compared ( z = 0.04, p = 0.9). Conclusions Felt deflective padding can be used with similar outcomes on small, primarily neuropathic ulcers on the hallux or forefoot with both skin or shoe applications providing similar rates of wound closure.

Relationships between exercise capacity and front hoof longitudinal balance in horses

AbstractTo the authors' knowledge, the effect of hoof balance alteration on exercise capacity or performance has not been investigated. With the aim of evaluating the relationships between longitudinal front hoof balance and exercise capacity (lactate vs. speed relationship, run time and stride characteristics), two experiments were undertaken. In the first test the horses, left unshod, performed an incremental speed test in which parameters chosen to evaluate exercise capacity were related to hoof longitudinal balance. In the second part of the study the same group of horses had the length of the toe altered (decreased and increased) with the application of shoes, while the angle of the foot and the height of the foot from the ground remained the same. The relative change in exercise capacity due to the alteration of longitudinal balance was observed. In the unshod experiment, lactate level at the speed of 10 ms-1 (5.0±2.0 mmoll-1) was significantly associated with the angles DC° (angle described by the dorsal cortex with respect to the ground; 50.0±3.2°) and PC° (angle described by the palmar cortex with respect to the ground; 29.6 ± 2.9°), while run time (14.07 ± 1.44 min) was associated with breakover indices (Breakover index1 0.33±0.03; Breakover index2 0.30 ± 0.04 – all values mean ± standard deviation (SD)) (breakover indices were created to express the distance between the point of the toe and the point of the third phalanx relative to the length of the palmar cortex or relative to the distance between the point of the third phalanx and the centre of rotation of the distal interphalangeal joint). These associations have to be judged cautiously because the influence of hoof balance on exercise capacity could be biased by other physiological factors and because hoof balance parameters themselves could reflect the conformation of other anatomical structures far from the phalanges. The selective alteration of front hoof balance in the second part of the study produced a significant difference in blood lactate level only at 6 ms-1 (mean ± SD: La6?m?s-1 0.32 ± 0.39 mmoll-1), with this benefit in terms of lactate level being associated with an increase in stride length (mean ± SD: ΔSL6ms-1 0.01 ± 0.05 m; ΔSL10ms-1 0.112 ± 0.218 m). In conclusion, while higher exercise capacity seemed to be associated with lower DC°, PC° and breakover indices, decreasing the toe length without altering the foot angle was beneficial only in terms of lactate level at the speed of 6 ms-1 for horses with DC° greater than 45°; this benefit was accompanied by a slight lengthening of the stride at both 6 and 10 ms-1.

Elastomers for Shoe Applications

Abstract This review covers the various polymeric materials now used to produce outsoles and midsoles for footwear. Thermoset rubbers are considered to be the best material in terms of performance, but many new materials are challenging in the marketplace, due to their ease of production and lighter weight. While the focus of this review is on improvements made in the last 15 years, the history of footwear and footwear materials is discussed to provide a background for the development of the various alternatives to thermoset rubber.

Wedge and Eggbar Shoes Change the Pressure Distribution Under the Hoof of the Forelimb in the Square Standing Horse

Summary The shoe types most commonly applied to horses with navicular disease or other forms of palmar heel pain are shoes with heel wedges and eggbar shoes, although their efficacy has been a matter of debate among veterinarians and farriers for centuries. To quantify the effect of these different types of “navicular” shoeing on static hoof pressure distribution, 6 warmblood horses were shod with 6° wedge, eggbar, and plain shoes. While standing square with weight evenly distributed across both forelimbs, the center of pressure and pressures at selected areas of interest (AOI: toe, medial and lateral toe, medial and lateral heel) were measured using a Footscan (RsScan International, Belgium) pressure plate in a Latin square design using the plain shoe as a reference. Wedge shoes did not provide a significant shift in the center of pressure. The application of eggbar shoes did not alter the relative position of the center of pressure under the hoof. However, the absolute distance from the toe to the center of pressure was significantly larger with eggbar shoes (77 + 12 mm) compared with plain and wedged shoes (70 ± 8 mm, P < .05) resulting in an absolute, caudal shift of the center of pressure. When pressure (N/cm 2) values at the five AOIs were averaged for each shoe type, the wedge and eggbar shoe recordings showed a significantly lower mean pressure than plain shoes ( P < .05). In conclusion, mean AOI pressures decreased with wedge and eggbar shoes, and eggbar shoes provided a caudal shift in the center of pressure. These effects are believed to decrease the moment of the coffin joint and reduce the pressure on the navicular bone. Thus, the findings of this study might contribute to the scientific evidence of efficacy of the use of wedge and eggbar shoes in “navicular” lame horses.

Application technique and slurry co-fermentation effects on ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions after spreading: I. Ammonia volatilization.

Ammonia emissions after spreading animal manure contribute a major share to N losses from agriculture. There is an increasing interest in anaerobic co-digestion of liquid manure with organic additives. This fermentation results in a change of physical and chemical parameters of the slurry. Among these are an increased pH and ammonium content, implying a higher risk of NH3 losses from fermentation products. To compare different application techniques and the effect of fermentation on NH3 volatilization, we used the standard comparison method and tested it for reliability. This method seems to be perfectly suited for experiments with a large number of treatments and replicates if prerequisites concerning the experimental layout are considered. We tested four different application techniques on arable and grassland sites. The more the substrate was incorporated into the soil or applied near the soil surface on the grassland site, the less NH3 was lost. Injection of the substrate reduced losses to less than 10% of applied NH4+ on both sites, whereas losses after splash plate application amounted to more than 30%. Trail shoe application on grassland performed as well as injection. Harrowing on arable land also reduced emissions efficiently, if harrowing occurred within the first 2 h after application. Emissions from trail hose-applied co-fermentation product were not greater than from unfermented slurry. Better infiltration of the less viscous substrate seemed to have compensated for the increased loss potential.

Application technique and slurry co-fermentation effects on ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions after spreading: II. Greenhouse gas emissions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different application techniques on greenhouse gas emission from co-fermented slurry. Ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) emissions were measured in two field experiments with four different application techniques on arable and grassland sites. To gather information about fermentation effects, unfermented slurry was also tested, but with trail hose application only. Co-fermented slurry was applied in April at a rate of 30 m3 ha(-1). Measurements were made every 4 h on the first day after application and were continued for 6 wk with gradually decreasing sampling frequency. Methane emissions were <150 g C ha(-1) from co-fermentation products and seemed to result from dissolved CH4. Only in the grassland experiment were emissions from unfermented slurry significantly higher, with wetter weather conditions probably promoting CH4 production. Nitrous oxide emission was significantly increased by injection on arable and grassland sites two- and threefold, respectively. Ammonia emissions were smallest after injection or trail shoe application and are discussed in the preceding paper. We evaluated the climatic relevance of the measured gas emissions from the different application techniques based on the comparison of CO2 equivalents. It was evident that NH3 emission reduction, which can be achieved by injection, is at least compensated by increased N2O emissions. Our results indicate that on arable land, trail hose application with immediate shallow incorporation, and on grassland, trail shoe application, bear the smallest risks of high greenhouse gas emissions when fertilizing with co-fermented slurry.

SE—Structures and Environment: Slurry Application Techniques to reduce Ammonia Emissions: Results of some UK Field-scale Experiments

Shallow injection, trailing shoe and band spreading machines were evaluated, in terms of their potential for reducing ammonia (NH3) emission, by making measurements after application and in direct comparison with surface broadcast applied cattle slurry (pig slurry on one occasion). Several sets of comparative measurements were made with each type of machine on both grassland and arable land (mostly cereal stubbles), covering a range of soil, crop and weather conditions. Measurements of NH3 emissions were made for 5–7 days following application using a micrometeorological mass balance technique. Mean reductions in NH3 emission achieved from grassland, in comparison with surface broadcast application, were 73, 57 and 26% for shallow injection, trailing shoe and band spreading, respectively, the latter not being significant (probability P>0·05). Mean cumulative emissions, expressed as % total ammoniacal N applied in the slurry, were 13, 12 and 35% for shallow injection, trailing shoe and band spreading, respectively. There was a trend (probability P=0·029) for decreasing emissions with increasing sward height (between 10 and 20 cm) following trailing shoe applications. Abatement was generally less effective when these techniques were used on arable land, with mean reductions of 23, 38 and 27% achieved for shallow injection, trailing shoe and band spreading, respectively, with none achieving statistical significance (probability P>0·05). There was considerable variation in the efficiency of shallow injection, with reductions achieved in individual experiments ranging from 0 to 90%. The considerable variability in efficiency of the techniques for NH3 emission abatement warrants further investigation.