HoofPhIT Module (Beta)
Automated Hoof Measurements
Linear Toe Metrics
Toe Length (mm) - Linear length of the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) toes, measured independently, between the coronary band and the ground plane along the top edge of the toe.
Toe Angle (°) - The angle between the ground plane and the line fit along the top edge of the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) toes.
Heel Angle (°) - The angle between the ground plane and the line fit to the coronary band at the hoof quarters
Cleft Height (mm) - The vertical distance between the ground plane, and the cleft point of the hoof where the two toes join. Not a measurement that can be easily measured on a live animal, this metric can reflect depth of hoof independent of the growth/overgrowth of the claws.
Toe Height-to-Width Ratio - Width of the toe is here measured from the "inside" of the hoof as the perpendicular distance between the side wall (quarter) of the hoof at the coronary band and vertical plane that divides the two toes (ie - the green line). This metric provides a scale-free reflection of hoof depth, where >1 reflects a toe that is taller than it is wide.
Claw Set Metrics
Claw Angle (°) - Angle between the two linear lines fit to the top edge of the toe. A strongly set pair of claws should have an angle near 0. Feet with splay claws will have an angle significantly >0. If one toe begins to collapse and curl around the other, this angle may become significantly negative.
Claw Gap Ratio - Distance between the midpoints of the toe line relative to the length of the toes. This number will increase with greater separation between the two claws.
Claw Curvature Metrics
Toe Length Ratio Medial:Lateral ratio of the length of the lines fit to the upper ridge of either toe. Closer to 1 reflects balanced symmetric toe lengths.
Toe Curvature Distance that the lower toe is displaced towards the midline from perfectly linear projection. Reported as both an angle and as a ratio, where 1 is perfectly straight and >1 is progressively more curled.
Toe Flare If a straight edge were sat on the top of the foot along the axis of the toe, this metric reflects how much gap there is between this straight edge and the hoof wall. Reported as both a signed angle and ratio, where "+" values reflect a rounded or "knubbed" toe and "-" values reflect a broken-back or dished flare.
Hoof Scoring
Want to submit hoof structure data back to your breed association? The BoviPhIT platform also features algorithms to convert our objective measurements back to subjective structural scoring scales. Click on the diagrams below to see exactly how your measurements will be converted to standard scores.
BIF Toe Angle and Claw Set Scoring Scales
Toe Angle Score
Claw Set Score
