By Nowicki, M., Rozprawy i Monografie Dissertations and Monographs, 1999
Description
The quality of the hoof horn in cattle was determined on the basis of its histological structure. The differences concerning the hoof horn characteristics were determined for Polish cows of the Black-and-White breed and their F1 crossbreeds with Holstein-Friesian cattle and beef crossbreeds (75% of the Aberdeen Angus breed and 75% of the Charolais breed). 90 histological sections were evaluated altogether. Morphometric measurements were taken for selected characteristics of the horn structure of four cattle strains and breeds. The measurement results concerning the number of tubules per mm2, tubule diameter, marrow diameter, thickness of the tubule cortex layer and horn quality were analysed statistically. The results obtained show that there is a relation between the histological structure of the horn, its physical properties and intensification of the hoof disease incidence. It was also found that the horn microscopic structure depends on the age of animals and their living conditions. The research conducted indicates that the histological structure of the hoof horn affects its water content, wear resistance and protection capacity of the hoof box. The horn power and hardness grow with an increase in the number of tubules per surface unit and in the thickness of the tubule cortex. The results obtained seem to confirm the fact that the susceptibility of cows to hoof diseases depends largely on the horn quality. Polish cattle of the Black-and-White breed have hoof horns of poorer quality than the other strains and breeds studied, whose hoof horns show the smallest number of tubules per surface unit, a thicker cortex layer and broader marrow. The highest incidence of hoof diseases, the highest water content of horns and an unfavourable (negative) balance of horn growth and wear in the period of pasture feeding were also noted in this group of animals. The best traits of the horn structure, low water content, a positive balance of horn growth and the lowest incidence of hoof diseases were observed in cows of the Aberdeen Angus breed (75%)
The quality of the hoof horn in cattle was determined on the basis of its histological structure. The differences concerning the hoof horn characteristics were determined for Polish cows of the Black-and-White breed and their F1 crossbreeds with Holstein-Friesian cattle and beef crossbreeds (75% of the Aberdeen Angus breed and 75% of the Charolais breed). 90 histological sections were evaluated altogether. Morphometric measurements were taken for selected characteristics of the horn structure of four cattle strains and breeds. The measurement results concerning the number of tubules per mm2, tubule diameter, marrow diameter, thickness of the tubule cortex layer and horn quality were analysed statistically. The results obtained show that there is a relation between the histological structure of the horn, its physical properties and intensification of the hoof disease incidence. It was also found that the horn microscopic structure depends on the age of animals and their living conditions. The research conducted indicates that the histological structure of the hoof horn affects its water content, wear resistance and protection capacity of the hoof box. The horn power and hardness grow with an increase in the number of tubules per surface unit and in the thickness of the tubule cortex. The results obtained seem to confirm the fact that the susceptibility of cows to hoof diseases depends largely on the horn quality. Polish cattle of the Black-and-White breed have hoof horns of poorer quality than the other strains and breeds studied, whose hoof horns show the smallest number of tubules per surface unit, a thicker cortex layer and broader marrow. The highest incidence of hoof diseases, the highest water content of horns and an unfavourable (negative) balance of horn growth and wear in the period of pasture feeding were also noted in this group of animals. The best traits of the horn structure, low water content, a positive balance of horn growth and the lowest incidence of hoof diseases were observed in cows of the Aberdeen Angus breed (75%)
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