FARM AniMAlS doi:10.1136/inp.f2869

represent the bones most commonly fractured in cat-tle (Ferguson 1982). The lack of soft tissue protection leads to extreme vulnerability of the bone to external trauma; these bones are also prone to fracture caused by an excessive traction force (from the calving chain during dystocia or from a trapped leg in older animals), possibly resulting in a disruption of the growth plate. Proximal fractures are secondary to an external trauma. The energy required to break those bones is extremely high and such trauma often results in frac-tures with variable degrees of comminution. Humeral fractures are the only fractures mainly caused by an impact from the ground being transferred to the bone, when uneven compressive and rotational forces are applied to the distal humeral diaphysis as the forelim