Abnormal conformation can cause musculoskeletal problems of the limbs, especially the feet.
- excessively straight legs or post-legged cattle - decreased angulation of the stifle and hock joints - less shock absorption by the muscles, tendons, and ligaments - greater stress of stifle and hock joints and ultimately the feet.
- sicklehocks - rear feet and forward with increased angulation of the hocks which shifts weight toward the rear of each foot stressing flexor tendons and weakening the pastern.
- cow hocks - shift more weight to the lateral claw of the rear feet
- valgus or varus deformities cause abnormal distribution of weight
Claws - should be sized relative to the weight and size of the animal - claws should diverge only slightly when bearing weight - the angle of the cranial wall of the hoof to the ground should be 50-55 degrees in the front feet and 45-50 degrees in the rear feet - the heels should be high enough to keep the softer heel bulbs from touching the ground.