A study of hoof cracks in grazing cattle — association of age, weight and fatness
The data were obtained from cow calf pairs and replacement heifers grazing summer pastures in northwest Alberta. The objectives were to study the association of age, weight, condition score, cow and calf gain on the prevalence, intensity and severity of hoof (sand) cracks and to determine if such cracks affected cow and calf average daily gain. Cows that had cracks were 1.5 yr older, 43 kg heavier and fatter than cows that showed no cracks. The prevalence of sand cracks was 20–21%. Whereas 3.4% of cows and heifers which were 1 and 2 yr old had cracks, 32.4% of the 3- to 5-yr old and 47.9% of the > 5-yr-old cows had cracks (P < 0.0001). Similarly while 8.4% of the lighter (< 522 kg) cows had cracks, 32.3% of the heavier (> 522 kg) cows had cracks (P = 0.003). Discriminant analysis showed that cows with cracks were older, heavier and fatter at the end of the grazing period. Age of cow, weight and fatness had no effect on intensity or severity of cracks. The presence or absence of cracks had no effect (P > 0.05) on cow or calf gains on pasture. Key words: Hoof cracks, prevalence, intensity, severity, age, weight, fatness