STRUCTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCING HORN QUALI TY AND SITES OF PREDILECTION AT THE GROUND SURFACE OF THE CATTLE HOOF

The quality of the horn of the cattle hoof varies in the different seg ments of the ground surface adapted to weight bearing. Horn quality is influenced by the following main factors: the keratin proteins as the most important intracellular factor, the intercellular cementing subs tance as the intercellular factor, and the architecture of the cluster of horn cells, i.e. the arrangement of horn cells in tubular and inte rtubular horn. Differences in the structure and composition of these f actors and their respective combination determine the different degree s of hardness of hoof horn, which are even palpable. In special places , as i.e. the white zone, the combination of all these above-mentioned factors determines sites of predilection for diseases of the cattle h oof like white line disease.