Vets severing hind legs?

Question

Any ideas why a veteranarian would sever the hind legs and portions thereof live cattle they consider sick? What would they be testing for?

Answer 1

Of live animals? It seems pointless, considering it would die shortly afterwards. They might want to test the hooves for foot and mouth disease, by sending it away to the reference lab. But I doubt whether there is any need to keep the animal alive for the procedure.