Sagittal section of a wildhorse hoof. Pink: soft tissues; light gray: bone; cyan: tendons; red:corium; yellow: digital cushion; dark gray: frog; orange: sole; brown: walls
The hoof surrounds the distal end of thesecond phalanx, thedistal phalanx, and thenavicular bone.[5] The hoof consists of thehoof wall, the bars of the hoof, the sole andfrog and soft tissue shock absorption structures.[5] The weight of the animal is normally borne by both the sole and the edge of the hoof wall. Hooves perform many functions, including supporting the weight of the animal, dissipating the energy impact as the hooves strike the ground or surface, protecting the tissues and bone within the hoof capsule, and providing traction for the animal. Numerous factors can affect hoof structure and health, including genetics, hoof conformation, environmental influences, and athletic performance of the animal. The ideal hoof has a parallel hoof-pastern axis, a thick hoof wall, adequate sole depth, a solid heel base and growth rings of equal size under the coronary band.[5]
There are four layers within the exterior wall of the hoof. From the outside, a hoof is made up of the stratum externum, the stratum medium, the stratum internum and the dermis parietis. The stratum externum and the stratum medium are difficult to distinguish, the stratum externum is thin and the stratum medium is what makes up the bulk of the hoof wall.[6] Inside the hoof wall is alaminar junction, a soft tissue structure that allows the hoof to withstand the demands of force transmission it undergoes.[7] This tissue structure binds the inner surface of the hoof wall, the dermis parietis and the outer surface of the third phalanx.[7]
Mosteven-toed ungulates (such assheep,goats,deer,cattle,bison andpigs) have two main hooves on each foot, together called acloven hoof.[Note 1] Most of these cloven-hooved animals also have two smaller hooves calleddewclaws a little further up the leg – these are not normally used for walking, but in some species with larger dewclaws (such as deer and pigs) they may touch the ground when running or jumping, or if the ground is soft. In the mountain goat, the dewclaw serves to provide extra traction when descending rocky slopes as well as additional drag on loose or slippery surfaces made of ice, dirt, or snow.[8] Other cloven-hooved animals (such asgiraffes andpronghorns) have no dewclaws.
In some so-called "cloven-hooved" animals, such ascamels, the "hoof" is not properly a hoof – it is not a hard or rubbery sole with a hard wall formed by a thick nail – instead it is a soft toe with little more than a nail merely having an appearance of a hoof.
Someodd-toed ungulates (equids) have one hoof on each foot; others have (or had) three distinct hooved or heavily nailed toes, or one hoof and two dewclaws. Thetapir is a special case, having three toes on each hind foot and four toes on each front foot.
Anoxshoe is being nailed on the hooves of a bull used fordraft atChinawal, India, to prevent them from wearing out too much.
Hooves grow continuously. In nature, wild animals are capable of wearing down the hoof as it continuously grows, but captive domesticated species often must undergo specific hoof care for a healthy, functional hoof. Proper care improves biomechanical efficiency and prevents lameness.[5] If not worn down enough by use, such as in the dairy industry, hooves may need to be trimmed. However, too much wear can result in damage of the hooves, and for this reason,horseshoes andoxshoes are used by animals that routinely walk on hard surfaces and carry heavy weight.[9]
Within the equine world, the expression, "no foot, no horse" emphasizes the importance of hoof health.[10] Hoof care is important in theequine industry.[5] Problems that can arise with poorhorse hoof care include hoof cracks, thrush, abscesses andlaminitis.[11]
Acow hoof is cloven, or divided, into two approximately equal parts, usually called claws.[12] Approximately 95% of lameness in dairy cattle occurs in the feet.[12] Lameness in dairy cows can reducemilk production and fertility, and cause reproductive problems and suffering. For dairy farm profitability, lameness, behind only infertility andmastitis, is the third most important cow health issue.[13]
Hoof trimmers trim and care for bovine hooves, usuallydairy cows. Hooves can be trimmed with a sharp knife while the cow is restrained and positioned with ropes. Professional hoof-trimming tend to useangle grinders and some type ofhoof trimming crush to make the process quicker and less physically demanding on the hoof trimmer. A hoof trimmer using modern machinery may trim the hooves of more than 10,000 cows per year.[14][15] The trimmer shapes the hooves to provide the optimal weight-bearing surface. A freshly trimmed hoof may be treated withcopper sulfate pentahydrate to preventfoot rot.
^abcdeO'Grady, Stephen E. (2008). "Basic Farriery for the Performance Horse".Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice.24 (1):203–218.doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2007.12.002.PMID18314044.
^Goulet, Catherine; Olive, Julien; Rossier, Yves; Beauchamp, Guy (2015-11-01). "RADIOGRAPHIC AND ANATOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DORSAL HOOF WALL LAYERS IN NONlAMINITIC HORSES".Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.56 (6):589–594.doi:10.1111/vru.12280.ISSN1740-8261.PMID26226838.
^abDouglas, Janet E.; Thomason, Jeffrey J. (2000). "Shape, Orientation and Spacing of the Primary Epidermal Laminae in the Hooves of Neonatal and Adult Horses(Equus caballus)".Cells Tissues Organs.166 (3):304–318.doi:10.1159/000016744.PMID10765026.S2CID36816180.
^Aoki, Yasuhiro (2006). "Changes in walking parameters of milking cows after hoof trimming|(Aoki, Y. et al., 2006)".Animal Science Journal.77:103–109.doi:10.1111/j.1740-0929.2006.00326.x.Lameness, behind infertility and mastitis, is the biggest cause of economic loss to a dairy farmer (Weaver, A., 2006). Many farmers and veterinarians have used a phase that distinguished that if the animal has bad hooves then it is of no use, the most common version of this phrase is used with equines, "No hoof no horse."
^Weaver, A. D. (1985-01-01). "Lameness in cattle—Investigational and diagnostic check lists".British Veterinary Journal.141 (1):27–33.doi:10.1016/0007-1935(85)90123-X.PMID3995246.
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