corkscrew claw

[AGN76]

Does anyone know if corkscrew claw can be 'bred out' over the generations?

 

[AGN76]

@bovine

 

[bovine]

These guys came up with "Hoof characteristics of corkscrew claw, sole ulcers, and heel warts have small genetic components. Environmental factors are much more important than genetic factors in reducing incidence of these conditions."

http://livestocktrail.illinois.edu/dairynet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=280

Regular routine foot trimming seems to help, as long as the curve isn't too pronounced.

 

[AGN76]

Thanks, but the last sentence of this doesn't fill me with much confidence -
Source – Second veterinarian.He agrees it’s an autosomal recessive trait. He refuses to pass bulls on breeding soundness exams if they have it but wouldn’t necessarily condemn a bull with it. The only way he’d recommend using a screw claw bull is if it is for a strictly terminal operation where you don’t keep the replacement heifers.He’s seen entire herds destroyed by breeders who refused to face the facts and kept everything out of the bulls. When asked about breeds that he’s seen it in he said “Maine, a little bit in Beefmaster, Simmental, Simmental, Simmental, and SIMMENTAL” and I don't think I can justly convey the emphasis he put on that last "Simmental".He claims his belief of the autosomal recessive nature theory resulted from a research paper but didn’t remember where it came from (if you know what he was talking about, PLEASE let me know). He laughed when I asked him about the Huang Shanks paper mentioned below

 

[bovine]

I'm not sure how much you know about (or care about) academic literature - but almost all the good stuff ends up getting indexed by Pubmed. There is nothing on there about simmys and corkscrew claw.

There are bits floating about suggesting a genetic link:

https://asas.org/docs/default-sourc.../300_paper_9013_manuscript_362_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2

This paper mentions corkscrew claw but in the study population of over 20,000 cows found an incidence of 0.1% so it's not discussed.

This paper (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030214003063) suggests: "These results imply that selection for feet and leg conformation is not an efficient approach to genetically improve claw health in Norwegian Red cattle."

I can't find anything conclusive.

 

[AGN76]

I have 1 pedigree lim cow with corkscrew, she has 1 daughter slight curl, 1 daughter bad curl, 1 nothing. Daughter of slight curl has a curl just starting herself so it sounds genetic to me. I just wonder if it can be bred away from or should I just put them all to terminal sires and be done with

 

[bovine]

I'm not sure how much you know about (or care about) academic literature - but almost all the good stuff ends up getting indexed by Pubmed. There is nothing on there about simmys and corkscrew claw.

There are bits floating about suggesting a genetic link:

https://asas.org/docs/default-sourc.../300_paper_9013_manuscript_362_0.pdf?sfvrsn=2

This paper mentions corkscrew claw but in the study population of 25,000 cows found an incidence of 0.1% so it's not discussed.

 

[AGN76]

I have 1 pedigree lim cow with corkscrew, she has 1 daughter slight curl, 1 daughter bad curl, 1 nothing. Daughter of slight curl has a curl just starting herself so it sounds genetic to me. I just wonder if it can be bred away from or should I just put them all to terminal sires and be done with

 

[Gulli]

I have 1 pedigree lim cow with corkscrew, she has 1 daughter slight curl, 1 daughter bad curl, 1 nothing. Daughter of slight curl has a curl just starting herself so it sounds genetic to me. I just wonder if it can be bred away from or should I just put them all to terminal sires and be done with

I would bet that you could make much bigger gains elsewhere than attempting to breed corkscrew claw out of a bloodline. Put them to a terminal and save yourself the hassle.

Keep a close eye on the one without a curl, she might be worth breeding from if nothing develops

 

[Thick Farmer]

It needs to be culled out.

@Walterp is an expert on the subject so I recall.

 

[AGN76]

I would bet that you could make much bigger gains elsewhere than attempting to breed corkscrew claw out of a bloodline. Put them to a terminal and save yourself the hassle.

Keep a close eye on the one without a curl, she might be worth breeding from if nothing develops

I'm sure your right, but I'm sure we can all predict the wonderful feet that the terminal sire will produce on heifers I won't want to keep!

 

[AGN76]

It needs to be culled out.

@Walterp is an expert on the subject so I recall.

But hasn't @Walterp vanished?

 

[Gulli]

I'm sure your right, but I'm sure we can all predict the wonderful feet that the terminal sire will produce on heifers I won't want to keep!

if you catch it early and keep it trimmed before it curls too much then its manageable. Still a pita though

 

[Sandpit Farm]

I've had issues with this as a foot trimmer. The bone can actually irreversibly twist. Excessive trimming at the outer edge of the sole is impossible as the corium (quick) is so close to the surface you will almost always make her bleed. To make matters worse, that outer edge will take 70%+ of the weight of the foot so blocking the inner claw is difficult.

If the foot is trimmed regularly before the inner edge of the toe lifts from the ground, you may keep on top of it. If not, you have to cull.

Having said that, an Angus cow on an extensive system can live quite a long productive life with this deformity.

 

[Gulli]

Having said that, an Angus cow on an extensive system can live quite a long productive life with this deformity.

So can a Brown Swiss on a system somewhere between the two

 

[AGN76]

I don't really want to be trimming all the time though, if ever, it sounds to me that it's always passed on

 

[bovine]

If it was always passed on the heritability would be clear.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

I don't have a peer reviewed paper that says it is passed on but I do see it in certain cow families which has to be more than coincidence. It is the same for thimbling or sand cracks.

 

[multi power]

its very very simple, dont breed from anything with undesireble traits