Investigating the potential role of abrasion in the development of toe tip necrosis in beef cattle: an ex vivo study.

Abstract

Objective: To compare regional stiffness of the white line (objective 1) and image-based metrics of damage (objective 2) of control claws and claws subjected to an abrasion simulator mimicking animals abrading their claws against a concrete surface commonly found in feedlots.

Methods: Sixteen (n = 16) cadaveric bovine hind limbs were acquired from participating commercial feedlots and separated into different testing groups: lateral claws subjected to an abrasion simulation (n = 8) and control claws manually rasped to the same level of wear found after the abrasion simulation (n = 8). Claws were subjected to indentation testing along the white line to determine regional stiffness (control = 8; abraded = 8) and contrast-enhanced, high-resolution imaging (control = 6; abraded = 6) where mean image intensity was used to characterize damage. Analysis of variance was used to compare regional stiffness and image intensity of the different groups.

Results: Lower stiffness of the white line along the apical region was noted in abraded claws versus control claws (P < .019). Higher mean intensity (a measure of damage) was found in abraded claws versus control claws (P < .026).

Conclusions: Study findings indicate that abraded claws exhibited lower stiffness along the apical region of the white line relative to control claws. Also, analyses of contrast-enhanced, high-resolution imaging data suggested that pathways for foreign material to enter the claw may be present following abrasion.

Clinical relevance: These findings support the premise that abrasion may be involved in white line separation and toe tip necrosis pathogenesis. Alternative floorings that minimize abrasion may be beneficial for avoiding toe tip necrosis.