Instructions
Visual Examination
Observe the overall general condition of the animal. Lame cattle often can be poor in body condition due to pain.
Evaluate the stance of the animal to determine the area of lameness. When cattle stand presenting a side view or facing away from you, the point of the hock will be in a direct line with the pin bone. When an animal has a lameness in the hind claw, it will stand with that limb out of line. It will also avoid standing with weight on that hoof. If the animal is cow hocked, it generally represents an increase in thickness of the lateral claw. Pain in the toe of the claw will cause the animal to be camped forward, while pain in the heel area will cause the animal to be camped back. Pain in the medial claw will show through a stance that is extremely narrow. Pain in any of these areas can indicate the possibility of a corkscrew hoof.
Move any cattle identified to have potential corkscrew hoof to an area in which they can move freely.
Evaluate the gait to determine lameness. Compare the gait of one limb to the gait of the contralateral limb. Corkscrew hoof only affects the rear hoofs, so you should be able to see a difference in gait. With pain in the heel, the stride will not go as far forward as normal. Pain in the toe causes there to be a shortening of the leg going backwards after taking an actual step.
Move any cattle with the potential of having corkscrew hoof to a smaller pen area, so you easily can gain access to each individual animal.
Examine the claw, rinsing with water and brushing to remove debris and dirt. Calves can be cornered or roped and then thrown. Larger cattle may need to go through a squeeze chute.
Cattle younger than 2 should have claws that are equally concave. If they are not, this could indicate a problem later in life. Both claws should be identical.
Animals that have corkscrew hoof will display outside claws that are beginning to curve.
Cull any cattle with corkscrew hoof from the breeding program.
How to Detect Cork Screw Hoof in Cattle at an Early Age
Corkscrew hoof or claw is a hereditary condition in cattle. It affects the hind claws on cows under the age of 4. The outside wall of the outside claw grows faster than the inside wall. This causes the claw to curl in a corkscrew shape. The animal is then rendered lame. Identifying corkscrew claw is an essential part of the health maintenance of a cattle herd. Early detection can save a producer money and time, by reducing cattle lameness in a herd. Lameness often affects the ability of a cow to graze and gain an appropriate amount of weight.