|
|
Article: Testing White Line Strength in the Dairy Cow
- Article from:
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Dairy Science Association Sep 2004. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
ABSTRACT
The tensile strength of 576 pieces of white line horn collected over 6 mo from 14 dairy cows restricted to parity 1 or 2 was tested. None of the cows had ever been lame. Seven cows were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg/d biotin supplementation, and 7 were not supplemented. Hoof horn samples were taken from zones 2 and 3 (the more proximal and distal sites of the abaxial white line) of the medial and lateral claws of both hind feet on d 1 and on 5 further occasions over 6 mo. The samples were analyzed at 100% water saturation. Hoof slivers were notched to ensure that tensile strength was measured specifically across the white line region. The tensile stress at failure was measured ...