Performance Evaluation of Untreated, Untreated Thick and Treated Hoof Shoes for Bullocks

The performance evaluation of untreated, untreated thick and treated hoof shoes fixed to bullocks for carting work was carried out in Raichur region The experiment on different types of hoof shoes fixed to the bullocks was carried out for 28 days to assess the wear and tear in terms of weight and thickness of hoof shoes. The weight loss of untreated hoof shoe was found to be 15.8 per cent. The average wear loss of treated hoof shoe was found to be 11.68 per cent. The wear loss in thickness of untreated thick hoof shoes found to be 12.58 per cent. The wear loss in weight was found to be 14.53 per cent. The wear loss in thickness of treated hoof shoe was found to be 29.15 per cent. The total cost of untreated, untreated thick and treated hoof shoes including the labour charges were Rs. 95, Rs. 102 and Rs. 151 per pair, respectively. The total cost incurred in hoof shoeing in a year for untreated hoof shoes, untreated thick hoof shoes and treated hoof shoes were Rs. 1239, Rs.1064 and Rs. 1081, respectively. The feed back information on use of different hoof shoes was collected and it revealed that due to the non-availability of sophisticated technology for hardening treatment on hoof shoes, bullock cart operators preferred to use untreated hoof shoes. The untreated thick hoof shoes were accepted as an alternate by the farmers as they can be locally fabricated and also there was a saving in cost and lesser number of shoeing.