Large Animal Review

Effect of Calcium bolus at calving on postpartum performance and milk composition in dairy cows

Turky Alhelo, Ugur Serbester — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:14:27 +0200

During the late stages of gestation, calcium requirements increase to support the development of the calf and the production of colostrum. Low blood calcium after calving can result in various issues such as reduced feed intake, decreased milk production, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, recumbency. The study aimed to investigate the effect of calcium supplementation after calving on performance and milk composition of dairy cows during the first 28 days of lactation and lactational performance (days open, lactation length, cumulative lactation milk yield, and 305-d mature equivalent milk). Holstein cows (parity number: 2.6 ± 0.46) were randomly allocated into 2 groups: (1) oral supplement of Calcium bolus (CaB; n= 9) containing calcium formate and lithothamnion calcareum (red coral alga) immediately and 12 - 18 h post-calving and (2) Control (CON; n = 11) that did not receive oral Ca. Milk yield was recorded daily and data of body weights and milk composition were collected weekly from calving to 28 d postpartum. Blood sampling was performed between partum and 72 h from the coccygeal vein after morning milking and before feeding. Ca supplementation at calving tended to increase daily milk yield (P= 0.062) and increase total milk yield (P= 0.049) for 28 d postpartum. Also, CaB treatment significantly increased (P= 0.038) blood total Ca levels (2.15 mmol/L vs 1.87 mmol/L) in the first 72 hours after calving but did not affect magnesium and phosphorus concentrations. However, body weights and milk composition (total solids, fat, protein, fat:protein ratio, lactose, casein and urea-N), and lactational performance (energy and fat corrected milk, fat and protein yields) did not differ between treatments. Also, there was no effect of the treatments on days open, lactation length, 305-d mature equivalent milk, and lactation milk yield. In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows with oral Calcium boluses at parturition improves milk yield during early lactation, but not entire lactation.

Evaluation of blood gases in calves with Cryptosporidiosis

Sevim Kasap, Yiğit Kaçar, Sezgin Sentürk — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is a widespread disease in calves all over the world. NCD has multifactorial etiology and is mainly caused by aetiological agents by E. coli, Cryptosporidium spp., Rotavirus, and Coronavirus. Among these agents, Cryptosporidiosis and rotaviruses are the most common entero-pathogens in our region and all over the world. Cryptosporidiosis is protozoal enteritis caused by Cryptosporidium spp., that a coccidial parasite belonging to the Cryptosporidium genus. Cryptosporidiosis causes malabsorptive and secretory diarrhea in the small intestine. In neonatal calves with diarrhea, fluid losses during diarrhea and electrolyte imbalances may cause meabolic acidosis. Blood gas analysis is assessed the degree of severity of metabolic acidosis. It is aimed to this research that, to investigate the effect of cryptosporidiosis on calf metabolic status and compare it with healthy calves. The material of the study consisted of 16 Holstein calves with natural affected by only cryptosporidiosis were classified as the diseased group. 9 healthy calves with no diarrhea or other problem were classified as the control group. Clinical examination, fecal rapid tests and fecal microscopic examinations were performed in all calves at the beginning of study. Calves which had fecal rapid tests were positive only cryptosporidiosis and had Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts at infection level were selected as diseased group. Blood gas analyses were performed for both groups. Fecal analysis revealed that 16 calves were infected with Cryptosporidium spp. In the diseased group, there was a significant decrease in pH, cHCO3, cBase(B)c, and ctCo2(B)c (p < 0.001) compared to the healthy group. while a significant increase in cHc, PH, and cHCO3. and Anion Gap(K)c were statistically significantly (p˂0.001) differed from healthy group. It was determined that anion gap metabolic acidosis may occur in calves infected with cryptosporidiosis, although the clinical findings of diarrhea and the degree of dehydration were not very severe. It can be said that parenteral bicarbonate administration will provide significant support to the treatment in order to compensate for the acid-base balance in diarrheal calves with cryptosporidiosis

Effect of the administration of a molasses-based sugar liquid feed in partial replacement of starch on production performance, ruminal functionality, animal health and meat quality in fattening beef cattle

Carlo Angelo Sgoifo Rossi, Silvia Grossi, Riccardo Compiani, Gianluca Baldi — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:21:25 +0200

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a partial substitution of starch with sugar from molasses-based sugar liquid feed on growth performance, health status, ruminal parameters in fattening beef cattle under field conditions.

A total of 196 newly arrived male Charolaise cattle were assigned to two study groups: i) Control (n= 98; 424.26 ± 28.98 kg live weight), basal diet; ii) Treatment (n= 98; 412.85 ± 26.30 kg live weight), partial substitution of starch with sugar, through a reduction of 5.64 %, on dry matter basis, of with 7.7%, on dry matter basis, of a molasses-based sugar liquid feed. Growth performances, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion rate (FCR), carcass characteristics, meat quality and health status were evaluated. Ruminal parameters, such as daily average pH and time below the threshold of 5.8, indicator of risk of acidosis, were evaluated on 10 animals per group using the alarms released by the ruminal boluses Smaxtec Premium

The treatment significantly improved the average daily gain (ADG) (1.486 vs 1.419 kg/head/d in the Control group) (P<0.001) and intermediate ones (1.493 vs 1.44 and 1.471 vs 1.360 kg/head day in the Control group respectively for ADG_0-126and ADG_126-186) (P<0.001). Also, the intermediate (606.69 vs 600.98 kg in the Control group) and final weights (695.01 vs 682.56) were significantly higher (P<0.001) in the Treatment group. The average daily ruminal pH vas significantly lower in the Treatment group (6.68±0.30 vs 6.74±0.32 in the Control group) (P<0.05). The time spend under the threshold of 5.8 was significantly lower in treated animals (0.14 vs 0.67 h/d) (P<0.05). A tendency toward a significant effect of the treatment was found in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) (19.58 vs 24.48 % in the Control group) (P<0.1). No significant differences were found in the incidence of lameness and mortality. The carcass weight was significantly higher in treated animals (413.26 vs 404.08 kg of carcass weight in the Control group) (P<0.001), while carcass characteristics weren’t affected. Meat colour was improved by the treatment in terms of red index (15.34 vs 14.29 in the Control group) (P<0.05) and chroma (19.83 vs 18.58 in the Control group) (<0.05).

In conclusion, using a molasses-based sugar liquid feed to substitute part of the starch sources can effectively improve the growth performance of beef cattle, due to the positive effects on health and rumen activity. It can be, thus, a valuable strategy to improve sustainability, due to its effect on animal welfare, production efficiency, and circularity of the entire system.

Investigation of cardiac damage and coagulation profile in obese holstein cows

Cennet Nur ÜNAL, Murat Uztimur — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:26:27 +0200

In parallel with the increase in the prevalence of obesity in humans in the world in recent years, this trend has also been observed in animals. Obese humans and pets are known to have myocardial damage. However, the presence of myocardial damage in cows that develop obesity naturally is not known. The aim of this study is to determine whether holstein obese cows have a myocardial damage and a coagulation disorder. This study consisted of 20 obese cows between -year-old 4-7, with an average weight of 856.6 kg, and 10 cows between the year-old 5-7, with an average weight of 650 kg. The concentrations of high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTnI) (p<0.002), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p<0.001), and creatine kinase (CK) (p<0.002) in the obese group were
significantly higher compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the obese and the control group levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p>0.912), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) isoform (p>0.983) and prothrombin time (PTsec) (p>0.129). The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) concentration of the obese group (p<0.028) was found to be significantly lower than the control group. hsTnI concentration was found to have a positive correlation with AST (p=0.002; r=0.538), LDH (p=0.001; r=0.813), CK (p=0.001; r=0.651), white blood cell count (WBC) (p=0.023; r=0.414), lymphocyte count (LYM) (p= 0.038; r=0.381) and body condition score (BCS) (p=0.017; r=0.431).
In conclusion, in this study, we determined myocardial damage and coagulation disorders in obese Holstein cows. Additionally, significant changes in biochemical parameters were observed in obese Holstein cows. Future research should focus on determining whether myocardial damage in obese cows is reversible following weight loss and should include echocardiographic and electrocardiographic assessments for a more comprehensive understanding.

CO-Synch as a cheap fixed-time artificial insemination protocol to improve pregnancy rate in cow-calf production systems

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols are a tool to increase the reproductive efficiency in beef herds, however their use in Mexico and worldwide is limited. The aim of this experiment was to compare the pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI), overall pregnancy rate (PR), follicular dynamics, and cost among beef cattle treated with three different FTAI protocols. A total of 191 females were assigned to CO-Synch (n=63), CO-Synch+CIDR (n=60) and estradiol/progesterone (n=68) protocols balanced by BCS. Females treated with the estradiol/progesterone protocol had higher (P<0.05) estrus presentation than females in the CO-Synch and the CO-Synch+CIDR protocol. P/AI tend to be higher (P<0.10) in cattle treated with the estradiol/progesterone protocol than females in the CO-Synch protocol, however overall pregnancy rate (PR) was similar among protocols (P>0.05). Diameter of largest follicle, number of dominant follicles (≥ 6 mm) and percentage of females with a dominant follicle at PGF2- α injection were higher (P<0.05) in females of the CO-Synch protocol than females in the estradiol/progesterone protocol. Number of follicles from 2 to 5 mm was higher (P<0.05) in females treated with the estradiol/progesterone protocol than females in the CO-Synch protocol. Cost of treatment in relation to total calves born, was higher in estradiol/progesterone and in the CO-Synch+CIDR protocols than the CO-Synch protocol.

State-of-the-art sensors to monitor/manage dairy calf birth and calf health

John F Mee — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The two most hazardous periods in the life of a dairy animal are birth and the pre-weaning period. Birth presents the highest risk of mortality and the pre-weaning period presents the highest risk of morbidity for the dairy calf. Hence, it is the breeder’s responsibility to ensure calves transition successfully through these two high risk periods. Traditionally this was accomplished by good breeder stockmanship. However, as dairy herd sizes increase and skilled labour becomes less available, alternative approaches to protecting good calf health and welfare are required. One approach under active research currently is to utilise modern technologies to assist the breeder in monitoring and managing calf health from birth to weaning. After years of developments in precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies for dairy cows, now PLF technologies are increasingly being adapted and validated for dairy calves. The international state-of-the-art in three current active areas of research are reviewed here; prediction of calf birth, prediction of neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) and prediction of calf respiratory disease (CRD) through use of ‘on cow/calf’, ‘in cow/calf’ or ‘off cow/calf’ sensors. The focus of commercially available birth prediction devices is across monitoring dam activity, body temperature, tail elevation and foetal expulsion. The merits and demerits of each approach is discussed and summarised. For both calf diarrhoea and respiratory disease while there are studies on measurement of calf activity and physiological parameters, the focus currently is on utilising feeding/drinking behaviour data from automatic feeders. To date much of the output from this research has retrospectively associated parameters with subsequent ill-health but has not prospectively predicted ill-health. Major future challenges for all PLF calf technologies include validation of existing commercial devices, integration of information across different devices and development of economical, real-time, decision support forecasting tools for commercial dairy breeders. Thus, while multi-technology approaches show better results than single techniques, they are also less economical currently. Given that research on dairy calf PLF lags behind dairy cow PLF research, these early technology adaptation problems are to be expected; next generation calf-specific PLF technologies may resolve these issues and make such devices mainstream for dairy breeders.

Solitary pinnal fibrosarcoma in a mixed-breed goat: morphological and histopathological observations

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:31:30 +0200

This case report describes the diagnosis and surgical correction of a solitary pinnal fibrosarcoma in a four-year-old goat. The goat was presented with a progressively growing mass on the pinna, initially suspected to be a benign tumour. Physical examination revealed a firm, ovoid mass measuring approximately 5 cm in diameter on the dorsal aspect of the right pinna. However, histopathological examination confirmed the tumourous mass as fibrosarcoma. Surgical excision was done to remove the tumour, and the goat showed satisfactory postoperative recovery without any recurrence. The H&E stained sections showed high cellularity, infiltrative growth, and spindle-shaped cell arrangement with a herringbone pattern. The tumour cells display elongated nuclei, scant cytoplasm, and a high mitotic rate. There was extensive collagen fibre production, with varying degrees of cytological atypia. Masson's trichrome staining highlighted dense bundles of collagen fibers in deep blue colour, whose nuclei showed shades of purple, with mitotic figures indicating active cell division. This case emphasises the importance of thorough diagnostic evaluation and timely surgical intervention to manage cutaneous neoplasms in goats. Due to its rarity and potentially devastating consequences, it is crucial to document and analyse cases of pinnal fibrosarcoma in goats to enhance our understanding of this disease and explore effective treatment strategies.