Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Establishing a Practical and Cost-Effective Protocol for Corneal Sensitivity Testing in Clinical Settings
Published on: August 2, 2024
Corneal sensitivity in healthy bovine calves
Kyle L Tofflemire1, Elizabeth M Whitley, Renee D Dewell
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate corneal sensitivity as measured by the corneal touch threshold in healthy bovine calves.
Animals Studied:
Twelve clinically normal male calves with predominantly Holstein genetics and a median age of 76.5 days (range, 67-92 days).
Procedures:
Corneal touch threshold (CTT) of the central cornea was measured in both eyes of each calf using a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer.
Results:
The mean ± standard deviation corneal touch threshold of all eyes was 1.33 ± 1.1 g/mm(2) (range, 0.62-66.15 g/mm(2) ), corresponding to a filament length of 34.56 ± 8.02 mm (range, 14-47.5 mm). There was no significant difference between fellow eyes.
Conclusions:
Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry was well tolerated in all 12 calves using a modified head restraint. Calves in this study may have a relatively sensitive central cornea compared to adult cattle and some other species; however, wide variation among individuals and eyes may be possible. Studies utilizing larger calf populations are necessary to establish reference ranges.
