A method for characterizing the mechanical behaviour of hoof horn
نویسندگان
چکیده
The hoof plays an important role in the health and well-being of dairy animals. Consequently, mechanical properties of the hoof horn and changes in this tissue with nutrition or environmental factors are important concerns. A novel experimental approach for evaluating the mechanical behaviour of hoof horn has been developed. The process is comprised of obtaining incremental slices of hoof horn, stamping samples from selected zones of the sectioned tissue, performing uniaxial tensile tests and evaluating the mechanical response using digital image correlation (DIC). From a combination of unique methods of extraction and evaluation, the process enables hoof horn tissue to be characterized as a function of distance from the dermal-epidermal junction, within specific regions of the claw and as a function of hydration. In addition, the methods enable both the elastic and inelastic response of the tissue to be quantified. A preliminary study was performed to validate the new approach. In this manuscript the methods of evaluation are described and demonstrated through an examination of the mechanical behaviour of bovine hoof horn at two different levels of hydration.
منابع مشابه
Partial substitution, with their chelated complexes, of the inorganic zinc, copper and manganese in sow diets reduced the laminitic lesions in the claws and improved the morphometric characteristics of the hoof horn of sows from three Greek herds
BACKGROUND Hoof lesions in sows have been associated with lameness and poor hoof horn quality. The mechanical strength and quality of hoof horn is determined by the density and diameter of horn tubules, which were recently associated with the severity of lesions on the hoof wall of sows. Histologic changes that have previously been described in cases of bovine laminitis, have also been observed...
متن کاملDynamics and impact of footrot and climate on hoof horn length in 50 ewes from one farm over a period of 10 months
Footrot, including interdigital dermatitis, is caused by Dichelobacter nodosus cause the majority of lameness in sheep in the UK. Lame sheep often have overgrown hoof horn but recent evidence has indicated that trimming overgrown hoof horn increases recovery time, and that routine foot trimming of the flock does not reduce the prevalence or incidence of lameness. The objectives of this study we...
متن کاملNew methods for isolation of keratolytic bacteria inducing intractable hoof wall cavity (Gidoh) in a horse; double screening procedures of the horn powder agar-translucency test and horn zymography
To establish a new system to isolate keratolytic bacteria from the hoof wall cavity (Gidoh) of a racehorse, we invented the horn powder agar-translucency (HoPAT) test and horn zymography (HZ). Using routine bacteriological techniques and these methods, we isolated five strains of keratolytic soil bacteria, which were then identified by means of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing analysis....
متن کاملInvited review: formation of keratins in the bovine claw: roles of hormones, minerals, and vitamins in functional claw integrity.
Keratins are the characteristic structural proteins of the highly cornified epidermis of the skin, feathers, and hoof. Keratin proteins provide the structural basis for the unique properties of the biomaterial horn and its protective function against a wide range of environmental factors. Hoof horn is produced through a complex process of differentiation (keratinization) of epidermal cells. For...
متن کاملThe Growth and Adaptive Capabilities of the Hoof Wall and Sole: Functional Changes in Response to Stress (21-Nov-2003)
1. Introduction The hoof wall represents the outer protective structure of the foot and has long been of interest in terms of its growth, structure, and functioning, especially during disease conditions such as laminitis. The incidence of problems related to the hoof wall has been estimated to be 30% or more [1,2]. Although causal factors of some hoof wall abnormalities are obvious, such as dir...
متن کامل