[An investigation into the use of rubber shoe blocks to avoid undue pressure on the feet of cattle (author's transl)].
A brief review of the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods of avoiding undue pressure on the affected feet of cattle is followed by a report on a study of the use of a new shoe block in dealing with this problem. This new shoe was developed in the ambulatory Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. It was nailed under the feet of thirty cows which were not lame and were housed on a concrete slatted floor. Despite adverse housing conditions, the feet and shoes were still firmly connected three weeks later in 76.7 per cent and forty-nine days later in 50 per cent of the animals. The wear on the rubber shoe block was so slight as to be negligible and untoward side-effects were not observed. This type of shoe block would therefore appear to be a useful aid in avoiding undue pressure on the feet over a prolonged period.