Attachment of Hoof Blocks

Abstract

A device (10) for elevating the injured claw of a cloven hooted animal, particularly but not exclusively a bovine animal, is described. The device comprises means (12) lor receiving the claw of a cloven hoofed animal and means (16) for retaining a hoof block (20).

Claims

1. A hoof block retaining device for elevating one claw of a cloven hoofed animal, in which the device comprises means for receiving at least a portion of the claw to be inserted therein, a sole plate to sit below the claw in use and means for receiving and retaining a hoof block.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block are provided in or on the sole plate of the device.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block may be attachable to the sole plate.

4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which device is shaped to fit the claw to which it is to be attached.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which the hoof receiving means of the retaining device is shaped to partially enclose the claw such that at least the front portion of the hoof wall is enclosed by the device, but the rear of the hoof is not covered such that the flexor tendon of the animal is not stressed.

6. A device according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which, in use, the claw receiving means do not extend above the coronary band of the claw inserted therein.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the device is made from a plastics material.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the device is made from a biodegradable plastics or bioplastics material.

9. A device according to claim 8 in which the biodegradable plastics or bioplastics material is an aliphatic polyester, a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs) such as poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) and polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH), a polylactic acid (PLA), a polybutylene succinate (PBS), a polycaprolactone (PCL), a polyanhydride, polyvinyl alcohol, a cellulose derivative such as cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose, or another starch derivative.

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which a degradation enhancer is be added to the plastics material to facilitate degradation thereof.

11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in the device is at least partially flexible to prevent or reduce the likelihood of the device snapping during fitting.

12. A device according to claim 11 in which the device is made from an elastomeric material optionally comprising a degradation enhancer.

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the device is made by moulding or printing.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block are integral with the sole plate.

15. A device according to claim 14, in which the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block comprise a profiled lip which interacts with a reciprocal profile on or attached to the hoof block.

16. A device according to claim 15 in which the reciprocal profile is discontinuous.

17. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hoof block is force-fitted into the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block or held therein by friction.

18. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in which the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block comprises a substantially circumferential flange about the sole plate of the retaining device.

19. A device according to any one of claim 1 to 16 or 18 in which the hoof block is secured to the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block using an adhesive.

20. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in which the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block comprises a series of snap fit fasteners in one or both of the sole plate and the claw receiving means.

21. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the retaining device is formed around the hoof block.

22. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hoof block is made from wood.

23. A device according to claim 22 in which the hoof block is made from beech or oak.

24. A hoof block shaped to fit the retaining device of claims 1 to 23.

25. A hoof block according to any one of claims 22 to 24 having a raised tread pattern with conical, frustoconical, or truncated pyramid-like protrusions.

26. A hoof block retaining device or a hoof block as described in any one of the preceding claims, in which the animal with a cloven hoof is a bovine animal.

27. A hoof block retaining device or a hoof block as described in any one of the preceding claims, in which the animal with a cloven hoof is a cow or a bull.

28. A hoof block retaining device or a hoof block as described in any one of claims 1 to 25, in which the animal is an ovine or caprine animal.

Description

[0038] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to and as illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings of which

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the hoof block retaining device of the present invention,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block taken along arrow X-X of FIG. 1,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a detail of an alternative means for receiving and retaining the hoof block,

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a hoof block usable with the means for receiving and retaining the hoof block of FIG. 3,

[0043] FIG. 5 shows the preferred embodiment of the hoof block retaining device of the present invention, and

[0044] FIG. 6 shows the hoof block retaining device of FIG. 5 with a hoof block inserted therein.

EXAMPLES

[0045] In a first embodiment, the hoof block retaining device 10 comprises means 12 for receiving at least a portion of the claw to be inserted therein, a sole plate 14 to sit below the claw and means 16 for receiving and retaining a hoof block. The receiving means 12 of the device 10 is shaped to accommodate either the lateral or the medial claw of a bovine animal such as a cow. In this embodiment the sole plate 14 is comprised of a narrow band defining the perimeter of circumference of the device 10 and wholly contains the means 16 for receiving and retaining the hoof block 20 (partial view in FIG. 2).

[0046] The receiving and retaining means 16 defines a channel 18 for receiving a profiled element in the form of a lip 22 of hoof block 20. For added security, to prevent lateral slippage, in use groove 24 of block 20 houses an arm 19, which is one of the arms defining channel 18, of the receiving and retaining means 16. In this embodiment, prior to application to a cow, block 20 is inserted into the device 10 such that the lip 22 engages with the channel 18 and the groove 24 houses arm 19 to secure the block 20 in the device 10. The device 10 is then fitted to the claw of a cow to balance the hoof and is secured in place, for example by use of an adhesive.

[0047] In a second embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the shape and positioning of the claw receiving means is the same as in the first embodiment but the receiving and retaining means are of a simple construction. The means for receiving and retaining the hoof block 40 comprises a circumferential flange 50. The hoof block 40 comprises a circumferential lip 42 whereby, in use, lip 42 rests on flange 50 and is prevented from lateral slippage by the wall 38 of sole plate 36 and the wall 44 of the hoof block 40.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 4, a hoof block 60 of the invention is shown. The hoof block 60 has a tread pattern of truncated pyramids 62 arranged in a grid pattern. It has been found that such a tread pattern improves the traction of the hoof block and improves the gait of the cow wearing the hoof block which in turn prevents lameness of the cow. The block 60 has the same circumferential lip 42 as in FIG. 2 to engage with a flange 50 in the retaining device of the invention.

[0049] In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hoof block retaining device 70 comprises means 72 for receiving at least a portion of the claw to be inserted therein the shape and positioning of the claw receiving means is similar to that shown in FIG. 3. The means 72 for receiving and retaining the hoof block comprises a circumferential flange 74. The hoof block 60 comprises a circumferential lip 42 whereby, in use, lip 42 rests on flange 72 and is prevented from lateral slippage by the wall 78 of sole plate 76 and the wall 44 of the hoof block 60.

[0050] In use, the hoof block 20, 40, 60 is inserted into the hoof block retaining device 10, 60, 70 to form a shoe and applied to the claw of an animal being treated, optionally using an adhesive. Where the adhesive of the invention is used, the user heats the two component parts of the adhesive before mixing, the mixed polyurethane resin is applied to the inside of the shoe made up of the hoof block retaining means and the hoof block fitted therein, the mixture will lose colour from pink to cream as the adhesive cures, when the mixture turns cream the user applies the shoe to the claw and pushes the shoe firmly against the claw. When the shoe can be tugged by the user, with little to no movement the user can move onto another claw or animal.