ABNORMALITIES OF THE DEWCLAWS IN COWS: BUFFALOES; SHEEP AND GOATS

Document Type : Research article

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Abstract

Dew claw abnormalities and overgrowths were detected in 201 buffaloes out of 437 ones, in 127 cattle out of 378, in 145 sheep out of 572 & in 98 goats out of 418 ones. The following abnormalities were observed: 1- Diverging dew claws. 2- Laterally and medially parallel dew claws. 3- L-shaped and inverted L shape. 4- Hyperplastic. 5- Curved out and curved in. 6- Hook like. Calcified dew claws were noticed only in buffaloes, wing like
dew claws were only found in sheep and goats, while supranumerary dew claws were observed in all species except goats. The majority of these abnormalites were accompanied by abnormalities in the main claws. In governmental farms the percentage of these abnormalities was higher than those in private farms and in animals belonging to individual farms, because the attendants in the governmental farms neglect to pick out the dirts in between the claws and dew claws and are not keen to call for periodical trimming of the claws. It is of importance to notice that dew claw abnormalities were more prevalant in white and pale coloured claws than in dark and black coloured ones

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