Hardness evaluation of the hoof horn of fattening swine using the Shore D. hardness evaluation device
Schulenburg, A. von der
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 92(11-12): 470-473
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 3910394 Document Number: 245793
Groups of pigs were kept for 14 weeks on dry or damp floors, with or without straw. A device used for testing the consistency of synthetic rubber or plastics was employed for measuring the hardness of the claw horn. Measurements were made at various points on the wall and sole. On damp straw the horn of both the wall and the sole was softer than on dry straw. On dry straw the horn of the wall was harder than that of the sole. The hardness of the sole was affected more by the degree of dampness of the floor than by the state of the bedding, while the hardness of the wall was affected more by the state of the bedding than by the state of the floor.