Validation of a portable ultrasound machine for estimating sole thickness in dairy cattle in New Zealand.

The article discusses a study which validated the use of a portable ultrasound machine for monitoring sole thickness in 24 dairy cows in New Zealand. The researchers investigated the agreement between ultrasound and electronic calliper measurement of distance from the external to the internal sole surface and the distance from the external sole surface to the distal phalanx (DP). The accuracy of the DP measurement method for monitoring mean sole thickness in a group of animals is also cited.