OSSIFICATION OF OSSA-SESAMOIDEA-DISTALIA IN CATTLE

The appearance of ossification centres in cartilaginous primordia of o ssa sesamoidea distalia was studied in a group of twenty calves of the Bohemian spotted cattle (14 males and 6 females) from birth to three months of age. All calves were X-rayed four times in identical periods . The radiographs showed that ossification centres of ossa sesamoidea distalia were already easily identifiable at the early stages of ontog eny and their appearance was recorded from 1 to 60 days after birth. T he centres of ossa sesamoidea distalia appeared 14 to 30 days earlier on the pelvic limbes than in the thoracic limbs. In the pelvic limbs t hey were fully developed in calves at one month of age while in thorac ic limbs they were present at two months. In calves aged 3 months the ossification centres were equally well developed in both the thoracic and pelvic limbs, with the exception of calves retarded in growth. Oss ification of the centres occurred earlier in female than in male anima ls.