Paying attention to foot angle and claw set is important in cattle from both a performance and animal welfare standpoint. One way to evaluate foot angle is to look at the pasterns on cattle. Cattle that have weak pasterns will generally have a more angled hoof and a shallower heel which can lead to long toes. Long toes have an increased risk of cracking or breaking which can cause pain and reduced performance. When evaluating claw set make sure the claws are even in size and shape and that the toes don’t splay apart, curl in, or cross over.
