Structural adaptations of bovine ungulates modern agrocenosis

Abstract

The article presents the results of studies of anatomical, histological and morphometric characteristics of bovine ungulates aimed at identifying signs of structural adaptation of the distal part of the limb to anthropogenically modeled content conditions. The factors that the hoof experiences are the predominance of static load, the high weight of the animal, and the support on solid soil. As a morphological control, elk is considered as a parrotfish animal with similar body size and weight, located in the conditions of natural biotsenose and moving on forest soils. It is shown that constant presence of cattle in conditions of hypokinesia on hard floors leads to change of limb setting and change of hoof shape, which is reflected in change of hoof shape, increase of hoof angle, ratio of plantar and dorsal hoof surfaces length. At the same time, the biomechanical load is redistributed between parts of the hoof so that the load on the wall increases and on the ball decreases. This may be a factor predisposing the hoof to the appearance of microtraumas, later manifested by laminites.