Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXVI, Issue 1
Written by Nikolay MARKOV, Miroslav HRISTOV, Svetoslava STOYCHEVA, Tsvetelina DIMITROVA, Lora MONDESHKA
The paper deals with the study on individuals of two groups of cows, of red-white, wide-faced Montbeliarde and Simmental cattle breeds approved in Bulgaria according the qualities of their hoof horn and the impact of exogenous and endogenous factors on this process. Visual, metric and anatomically-topographical methods were used. Five measurements were made of the following indicators: length, width, total width, height and hoof angle of the thoracic and pelvic limbs of the studied animals during the indoor and pasture periods. Support point in cm² and the ratio of 1 kg live weight to unit support point in cm² were calculated. Pasture-raised cows, in both breeds, showed a higher coefficient (ratio) of a unit of support point compared to live weight, respectively a coefficient of 1,7576 for Montbeliarde breed or by 8.2% more and a coefficient of 1,3946 for Simmental breed or by 9.1% more. Mobility of cows affected critically to their ongoing health, productivity and longevity. Uniform growth of the hoof horn was determined by the equal distribution of cows’ body weight over the distal limbs. Hoof growth was subject to seasonal fluctuations.
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