Foot scores of cattle 2. Relationships among measurements of feet from slaughtered steers from eight sire groups

Abstract

Objective linear measurements were taken at slaughter on the front and rear feet excised from 87 Angus-sired steers by known sires and dams. Generally, means for front foot traits were similar to those for rear feet, including a difference of only 2.0 0 in angle of front v. rear foot. The repeatability of objectively measured traits was high (>0.76). Correlations between measures on adjacent digits were high (0.54 -0.88), as were most correlations between data from front and rear feet. c;oeffi~ients of variation for pre-slaughter hveweIght, hot-carcass weight, hoof horn length, and angle (of hoof away from the vertical) ranged from 5.9 to 8.00/0, for sole length (measured u.nderneath the hoof) 4.8 to 5.8%, and for foot cIrcumference 2.8%. Sire group effects were the only significant source of variation for the 14 foot traits. Principal component analysis of the variance-covariance matrix showed that 85, 7, and 3% of the variation was accounted for by the first three components, mainly describing slaughter liveweight, hoof horn lengths, and sole (i.e., underside) lengths respectively. Heavier cattle had larger hooves, with an angle indicating 'feet positioned closer to the vertical than for averageeight animals. One sire group was of particular mterest because the herd owners thought the sire himself was unsuitable for use because of poor feet. Small but significant structural effects were found in his progeny group. His progeny were the most deviant for only one trait (length of sole on rear feet, as measured from below), and that was in a negative direction, which was favourable.

Untersuchungen zur Bedeutung und Quantifizierung der Klauenqualität und Moderhinkeresistenz beim Schaf

“…In contrast, claw angles decreased with age of dairy heifers in a study of Vermunt (1990), but lengths of the dorsal border and heel depths increased with age. Morris and Baker (1988) found in accordance that cattle with a higher body weight, which is comparable to age, had larger claws. Ral (1990) reported that toe length and heel height increased with higher lactation number in cows.…”

“…Similar observations in ewes were found by and furthermore, the authors worked out significant differences in DA of front claws and rear claws in eight weeks old lambs. Morris and Baker (1988) reported that claw angle in steers was greater in front claws. Most of the dimensions of claw traits differ significant between front and rear claw in cattle (Baumgarter, 1988;Baumgarter and Distl, 1990;Vermunt, 1990;Distl, 1996).…”

Review: The effects of soil compaction on root penetration, pasture growth and persistence

“…No consideration seems to have been given to breeding stock with larger hoof surface areas to reduce ground pressures. there is evidence for sire effects on hoof area in Angus beef animals (morris & Baker 1988), and an investigation of the potential to breed dairy cows with big, flat feet is warranted. the mechanical hoof used by Di et al (2001) to simulate animal treading could be modified to investigate hoof-size impacts on soils.…”