G. Meusburger et al., INFLUENCE OF AN ACRYLIC SPRAY ON CLAW HOR N HARDNESS AND CLAW SOUNDNESS IN DAIRY-CATTLE, Praktische Tierarzt, 78(3), 1997, pp. 238
The influence of an acrylic spray on claw soundness and the hardness o
f the claw horn was tested in 48 dairy cows kept in tied stalls the ye
ar round, After claw trimming D-Shore hardness as well as the health s
tatus of the claws was measured using the scoring system according to
Brandejsky et al. (1991). On the right hand claws of front and hind li
mbs the spray was applied, the left hand claws were used as a control
group. 8, 16 and 24 weeks after the application Shore-D-hardness was m
easured, A second scoring was performed after 24 weeks during the next
routine claw trimming. Shore-D-hardness was equal in the treated and
in the untreated group at each follow up examination. Claw soundness e
xpressed in score-figures also showed no differences. Shore-D-hardness
was significantly higher in the claws of the front limbs. Breed diffe
rences could not be observed.