Abstract
Forty-nine dairy cattle (19 heifers, 14 second-calf cows, 16 mature cows) housed in a free stall one week after calving, were examined for changes in shape and hardness of the fore and the hind hooves two months before calving to two months after calving at one month intervals. The load of the inner and the outer claws were measured by load cells two months before calving and two months after calving. All hooves were trimmed two months before calving. The inner claw increased in length more than that of outer claw and the angle of inner toe significantly (P<0.05) decreased in both feet two months after hoof trimming, resulting in a distinct difference between the inner and the outer claw shape. The weight bearing surface area of the hind inner/outer claw ratio significantly (P<0.05) decreased three to four months after hoof trimming. The load of the hind inner/outer claw ratio significantly (P<0.05) decreased four months after hoof trimming. However, the load of the fore inner/outer claw ratio significantly (P<0.05) increased four months after hoof trimming. The hoof hardness significantly (P<0.05) decreased in both feet after being housed in a free stall and heel erosion scores significantly (P<0.05) increased in the hind foot one to two months after being housed in a free stall. The occurrence of foot diseases in dairy cattle in a free stall seemed to be due to the heel erosion, loss of hooves by hoof trimming and load unbalance between the inner and the outer claws three to four months after hoof trimming.
