Soft walking areas in cattle houses improve claw health

Problem: overstressing

On hard stable floors mechanical-traumatic claw diseases can develop, caused by an unnaturally strong pressure load. In 80 % of the cases the hind claws are affected, indicating excessive load as the main cause.

Anatomy and Biomechanics

Only on soft ground can cattle walk naturally on their claws - cattle are animals that require soft ground to walk on:

• with cattle their outer toe is 3 mm longer than the inner toe on the average
• the cow steps down with the outer toe first

→ these criteria provide stability– but only on soft ground!

CRITICAL: On hard ground the outer claw alone must absorb the peak load of the entire body weight!

OPTIMAL: On soft ground the body weight is evenly distributed throughout the total surfaces of the outer and inner toes.

• natural load conditions, excessive pressure is prevented
• optimal blood circulation and nutrient supply, because cows are more active

→ horn quality improves
→ the horn becomes more resistant to physical, chemical and bacterial effects

Length difference of inner and outer toes

Source: Muggli, E., 2007, University Zurich; images: Karl Nuss, Munich

Motion sequence of a cow stepping down

Source: Schmid, T. et al., 2008; images: Karl Nuss, Munich

… and that is why cows choose soft ground.

On soft KURA rubber mats the claws can sink in about 3 or 4 mm – which is exactly what cattle require naturally.

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