A simple formula for predicting claw volume of cattle

The object of this study was to develop a simple method for accurately calc ulating the volume of bovine claws under field conditions. The digits of 30 slaughterhouse beef cattle were examined and the following four linear mea surements taken from each pair of claws: (1) the length of the dorsal surfa ce of the claw (Toe); (2) the length of the coronary band (CorBand); (3) th e length of the bearing surface (Base); and (4) the height of the claw at t he abaxial groove (AbaxGr). Measurements of claw volume using a simple hydr ometer were highly repeatable (r(2) = 0.999) and could be calculated from l inear measurements using the formula: Claw Volume (cm(3)) = (17.192 x Base) + (7.467 x AbaxGr) + 45.270 x (CorBan d) - 798.5 This formula was found to be accurate (r(2) = 0.88) when compared to volume data derived from a hydrometer displacement procedure. The front claws occ upied 54% of the total volume compared to 46% for the hind claws. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.