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Hoof conformation plays a key role in equine locomotion. Toe-in conformation is an abnormal condition characterized by inward deviation of the limb from its frontal axis. Several studies have documented differences in hoof deformation and hoof kinematics in horses with toe-in and normal hoof conformations. However, the reason behind this has yet to be understood. The present study hypothesizes that a different center of pressure (COP) path underneath the hoof is the cause of different deformation patterns and hoof kinematics in toe-in hooves. In vivo measurements and finite element (FE) analysis were conducted to test the hypothesis. A normal and a toe-in limb were considered for in vivo strain measurements. Strains were measured at three different sites on the hoof wall, and the stride characteristics were investigated using video recording. The magnitude of the minimum principal strain measured at the medial aspect of the toe-in hoof was much lower relative to the normal hoof. Furthermore, the toe-in hoof had a different movement pattern (plaiting) compared to the normal hoof. In the second study, an entire hoof model was simulated from computed tomography (CT) scans of an equine left forelimb. The Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material model was used, and the hoof was under dynamic loading over a complete stride at the trot. Two different COP paths associated with normal and toe-in conformations were assigned to the model. The FE model produced the same in vivo minimum principal strain distributions and successfully showed the different kinematics of the toe-in and normal hooves.

Conformation of the hooves and distal limbs of foals and factors influencing their morphological development have not been reported in detail for the Thoroughbred breed. In this paper we explore morphogenesis of the equine distal limb in Thoroughbred foals with emphasis on adaptations in response to weight bearing early in life that prepare the foal for an athletic career. Novel data from four studies are presented chronologically during key time periods to illustrate specific aspects of distal limb growth and adaptation. Dorsal epidermal thickness increased from 2.84 ± 0.41 mm in utero to 4.04 ± 1.10 mm by 4 months of age. The increase in thickness was accompanied by decreased tubular density, increased inter-tubular material, and an increase in number and size of tubules at the quarters, which provided a malleable hoof capsule to allow for skeletal growth. Between 4–6 months of age, the hoof widens, and higher loading on the medial side (>60%) vs. the lateral side (<40%) may be factors that influence mature asymmetric hoof shape. Shortly after 12 months-of-age, the dorsal hoof wall angle and dorsal parietal angle of the distal phalanx become parallel, thus optimizing the functional capacity of the hoof capsule in the weanling Thoroughbred.

Equine shoes provide hoof protection and support weakened or damaged hoof tissues. Two hypotheses were tested in this study: 1) motion of the third phalanx (P3) and hoof wall deformation are greater in laminitic versus unaffected hooves regardless of shoe type; 2) P3 displacement and hoof wall deformation are greatest while unshod (US), less with open-heel (OH), then egg-bar (EB) shoes, and least with heart-bar (HB) shoes for both hoof conditions. Distal forelimbs (8/condition) were subjected to compressive forces (1.0x10 2 –5.5x10 3 N) while a real-time motion detection system recorded markers on P3 and the hoof wall coronary band, vertical midpoint, and solar margin. Magnitude and direction of P3 displacement and changes in proximal and distal hemi-circumference, quarter and heel height and proximal and distal heel width were quantified. Hoof condition and shoe effects were assessed with 2-way ANOVA (p<0.05). P3 displacement was greater in laminitic hooves when US or with OH, and EB and HB reduced P3 displacement in laminitic hooves. P3 displacement was similar among shoes in unaffected hooves and greatest in laminitic hooves with OH, then US, EB and HB. EB and HB increased P3 displacement from the dorsal wall in unaffected hooves and decreased it in laminitic hooves. OH and EB increased P3 motion from the coronary band in laminitic hooves, and HB decreased P3 motion toward the solar margin in unaffected and laminitic hooves. In laminitic hooves, HB reduced distal hemi-circumference and quarter deformation and increased heel deformation and expansion. Proximal hemi-circumference constriction was inversely related to proximal heel expansion with and without shoes. Overall, shoe configuration alters hoof deformation distinctly between unaffected and laminitic hooves, and HB provided the greatest P3 stability in laminitic hooves. These unique results about P3 motion and hoof deformation in laminitic and unaffected hooves inform shoe selection and design.

To solve the technical problem that wheeled vehicles are prone to skidding on complex ground, due to poor adhesion performance, a tire-tread-structure design method based on the bionic principle is proposed in this paper. The 3D model of a goat’s foot was obtained using reverse engineering technology, and the curve equation was fitted by extracting the contour data of its outer-hoof flap edge, which was applied to the tire-tread-structure design. The bionic and herringbone-pattern rubber samples were manufactured, and a soil-tank test was carried out using an electronic universal tensile-testing machine, in order to verify the simulation results. The results showed that the overall adhesion of the bionic tread-pattern was greater than that of the normal tread-pattern with the same load applied and the same height and angle of the tread-pattern structure, and the maximum adhesion was increased by 14.23%. This research will provide a reference for optimizing the pattern structure and thus improving the passing performance of wheeled vehicles.

In order to explore the metabolic and ionic changes of hoof-deformed cows, the serum samples of 10 healthy cows (group C) and 10 hoof-deformed cows (group T) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and ICP-OES/MS. The pathway enrichment of differential metabolites was analyzed by screening and identifying differential metabolites and ions and using a bioinformatics method. The integration of metabolomics and ionics was analyzed with ggplot2 software in R language, and verified by MRM target metabolomics. The results showed that 127 metabolites were screened by metabolomics, of which 81 were up-regulated (p < 0.05) and 46 were down-regulated (p < 0.05). The results of ICP-OES/MS showed that 13 kinds of ions such as K, Li, and Pb in serum of dairy cows were up-regulated, while 18 kinds of ions such as Al, Cu and Sb were down-regulated. The integrated analysis of metabolomics and ionics found that potassium ions were positively correlated with L-tyrosine, L-proline, thiamine and L-valine. Sodium ions were positively correlated with L-valine and negatively correlated with α-D-glucose. The results of high-throughput target metabolomics showed that the contents of L-proline, L-phenylalanine and L-tryptophan in serum of dairy cows increased significantly, which was consistent with the results of non-target metabolomics. In a word, the metabolism and ion changes in dairy cows with hoof deformation were revealed by metabolomics and ionics.

Distal limb injuries are common in racing horses and track surface properties have been associated with injury risk. To better understand how track surfaces may contribute to equine limb injury, we developed the first 3D computational model of the equine hoof interacting with a racetrack and simulated interactions with model representations of 1) a dirt surface and 2) an all-weather synthetic track. First, a computational track model using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method with a Drucker-Prager (D-P) elastoplastic material model was developed. It was validated against analytical models and published data and then calibrated using results of a custom track testing device applied to the two racetrack types. Second, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine which model parameters contribute most significantly to the mechanical response of the track under impact-type loading. Third, the SPH track model was coupled to a biomechanical model of the horse forelimb and applied to hoof-track impact for a horse galloping on each track surface. We found that 1) the SPH track model was well validated and it could be calibrated to accurately represent impact loading of racetrack surfaces at two angles of impact; 2) the amount of harrowing applied to the track had the largest effect on impact loading, followed by elastic modulus and cohesion; 3) the model is able to accurately simulate hoof-ground interaction and enables study of the relationship between track surface parameters and the loading on horses’ distal forelimbs.

Numerous clinical observations indicate that the silage-concentrate type of dairy cows feeding causes a cascade of pathobiochemical processes occurring by the type of metabolic acidosis, ketosis, hepatosis, with a violation of protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Animals cannot realize the genetically inherent productivity potential. The culling of cows from the main herd is more than 37%. The main reasons for culling cows are hypo - and agalactia as a result of mastitis and ketosis, as well as infertility against the background of repeated infertile inseminations. Allotriophagy, unsteadiness of teeth, resorption of the last tail vertebrae, curvature of the vertebral column, traces of rib fractures, difficulty in lifting and moving when the content of total calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the blood is at the lower limit of physiological values indicate osteodystrophy. Exo-or endophthalmos, myxedema, forelock and mane, disheveled and curly hair, abortions, the birth of premature, ugly, stillborn, sparsely haired or “naked” calves against the background of low levels of protein bound iodine (PBI) in the blood indicate iodine deficiency in their body (hypomicroelementosis J). Coarsening and increased folding of the skin in the area of the head, neck and withers, active keratization on the skin in the area of articular surfaces and croup, thickening of the corolla zone and the border of the hooves in the form of a roller, ski-like growth and deformation of the hoof horn, enlargement and deformation of the joints, decreased reproductive function and low levels of zinc in the blood indicate parakeratosis of cattle (zinc deficiency).

Pathological claw formations occur subsequent to irregular or prolonged claw trimming periods and as a result of improper flooring. Clinical experience and material testing finds horn of minor quality to be associated with the malformations. Finite element models (FEM) of a flat claw (FC), a contracted claw (CC), and a laminitic claw (LC) were designed from native claw specimens to combine material properties and altered claw geometry for stress analysis. The FEM were created by digitizing the typically deformed exungulated claw capsule by means of computed tomography or digital photography. The derived geometry data were meshed with finite elements and the material properties were attributed. Loading was performed via vertical load vectors according to the suspensory and support apparatus of the bovine digit. All FEM were loaded on soft floors. Loading of the FEM of the FC with 756 N exhibited maximum stress values of 3.32 MPa in the dorsal wall, that of the CC exhibited comparably lower stress of 1.33 MPa in the distal abaxial wall, and the model of the LC showed maximum stress of 4.51 MPa in the region of the dorsal border, all at the same loading. The solar surfaces and the corresponding imprints showed stress concentrations in the palmar aspect of the bulb in the FC, a highly stressed bearing margin of the abaxial wall in the CC, and a diffusely stressed sole and bulb in the LC in contrast to the sound claw models. The FEM of the selected pathological claw forms (FC, CC, LC) calculated high stress zones exactly at locations in the claw wall and sole where clinical experts expect the typical claw lesions for these pathologies. These results were obtained simply by exchanging the outer form of the claw capsules; the method of loading and type of flooring for these pathological models were equivalent to those of the sound FEM. It is highly possible that the stress zones derived from these calculations represent corium compression in reality, and these data support the pathophysiological theory that claw lesions may arise as a consequence thereof.

The article deals with the results of the microelements content in the soil-feed-animal system. The analysis of farm soil 1 showed that the total cobalt content was 6.8; copper - 34.7; zinc - 25.4; manganese - 70.6; iron - 198.2 mg/kg. The content of mobile forms of copper and cobalt in soils was 8.5 and 3.6 mg/kg. In farms 2 and 3, the total cobalt content was 6.4 and 5.9; copper - 33.9 and 23.4; zinc - 27.9 and 24.8; manganese - 83.3 and 215.8; iron - 179.4 and 145.9 mg/kg, respectively. The content of mobile forms of microelements in soils has been reduced, with the exception of copper, lead and nickel. Thus, the results of searches of the microelement composition of the soil in the experimental farms, found their impoverishment on cobalt, zinc and manganese. Cadmium is present in all tests of soil samples. Analysis of the fodder of all three farms showed that the copper content was less in the beets, in cereals and silage it is established as its deficiency, and excess, in straw and hay - excess. Cobalt was less in fodder beets, hay, straw and cereals, except in wheat and silage. More manganese was found in beet, hay, straw, less in cereals. Less zinc was in the hay and cereals, more - in silo and straw. The iron content was less in hay, silage, barley and rye, but more - in beet, straw and oats. The analysis of rations showed that the supply of macroelements (calcium and phosphorus) was insufficient (62.0-78.2 and 49.4-57.4%). Along with all rations there was an excess of magnesium (126.9183.2%) and potassium (186.9-188.0%). The provision of the ration with cobalt and zinc was 25.7-71.8 and 33.6-75.1%, with copper - 21.2-116.1%. In 1 kg of feed dry matter was a low content of cobalt - 0.15-0.29 mg (optimal 0.5-0.7 mg), zinc - 13.621.5 (40 mg), manganese - 21.3-51.8 (40 mg), excessive copper - 8-8.7 mg (7 mg), iron - 146.5 - 268.9 mg/kg, with the optimal 60 mg. In feed rations there is an insufficient amount of vitamin D (8.9-14.1% of demand). Subclinical course of osteodystrophy in cows is manifested by loss of shine and ruffling of the hairline, moulting, decreased skin elasticity, alotriophagia, hyporexia, anemia of the conjunctiva; in blood - a decrease in cobalt up to 0.24 ± 0.01 pmol/l, copper - up to 13.4 ± 0.11, manganese - 2.1 ± 0.03, zinc - 14.5 ± 0.13 pmol/l (15-23 |jmol/l). In addition to the changes described above, thinning and partial lysis of the last pair of ribs were observed, resorption of the last 2-3 caudal vertebrae, partial deformation of the spine, convexity of the ribs, overgrowth and deformation of the hoof horns. In cows with subclinical course of osteodystrophy, the total calcium content was reduced in 18.9% (2.1-2.9 mmol/l, 2.4 ± 0.02), phosphorus in 5.7% of animals (1,2-2.2 mmol/l, 1.7 ± 0.02). Sick cows with hypocalcemia were diagnosed in 95.0% (1.95-2.40 mmol/L, 2.2 ± 0.05), which was combined with hypophosphatemia in 35.0% of cows (1.1 -1.9 mmol/l 1.6 ± 0.07). So, found that the main causes of osteodystrophy in barn feeding cows were a low content of vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and also cobalt and zinc in rations.

Grazing in nature reserves, or other sensitive lands, could affect the abundance of important plant species. In the Mediterranean basin, the Anemone coronaria is considered a flagship geophyte species. Studies conducted in the Mediterranean region of northern Israel showed that livestock grazing increased the abundance of A. coronaria. This was attributed to the consumption of other herbaceous vegetation species, resulting in better accessibility of A. coronaria to sunlight. Also, it was suggested that consumption of this species is limited due to its toxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of livestock on the abundance of A. coronaria, and on specific soil properties in a dryland environment, where primary productivity is determined by water availability. A long‐term study was established in the Israeli Negev, where early‐, mid‐, and late‐season grazing treatments took place over the course of a decade, and studied over three consecutive years between 2013/2014 and 2015/2016. The study revealed that the abundance of A. coronaria followed the order of non‐grazing (control) > late‐season grazing > mid‐season grazing > early‐season grazing. However, this effect was not significant (p = .0668). One way or another, the largest adverse impact of early‐season grazing is attributed to consuming fresh and not yet toxic shoots of A. coronaria at that phenological stage. The soil properties were studied in summer 2016. The analysis showed a significant increase in bulk density under all of the grazing treatments compared with those in the control plots. It was concluded that, in drylands, trampling over wet soil during the growing season increases its compactability, degrading the soil‐moisture status, and limiting A. coronaria abundance. Recommendations for nature conservation in drylands are, therefore, to negate grazing during A. coronaria's early‐growing season, as well as shortly after rain events when the soil moisture level is high. The largest adverse impact of the early‐season grazing is attributed to the consuming of fresh and not yet toxic shoots of A. coronaria at that phenological stage. Also, trampling over wet soil during the growing season increases its compactability, degrading the soil‐moisture status, and limiting the A. coronaria frequency. Recommendations for nature conservation in drylands are, therefore, to negate grazing during A. coronaria's early‐growing season, as well as shortly after rain events when the soil moisture level is high.e00053