Comparison of Breeding and Marketing Systems for Red Angus Cattle Using an Integrated Computer-Based Spreadsheet

An integrated computer-based spreadsheet was developed with data from 581 Red Angus-sired calves to compare synchronized AI and natural service breeding systems. This comparison was based on input costs, genetic merit of sires used for mating, and calf marketing system, using differences in net return. The spreadsheet integrated four elements into a decision summary: bull costs, AI costs, genetics merit, and marketing options. An economic sensitivity analysis was used to identify trends and key variables in the net return of each decision. Three prominent variables identified from economic analysis were bull purchase price, semen price, and percent genetic change. Bull purchase price was a primary factor in changes in net return; semen costs and genetic merit change explained rearrangements in ranking of net return. These two variables altered the ranking based on whether the estrous synchronization protocol used estrus detection or timed AI. The spreadsheet identified AI to be more cost effective than natural service when calves are marketed as finished cattle. Net revenue from AI calves was greater in all retained ownership scenarios; the weaned marketing scenario caused net return to vary by synchronization system for the combinations of costs and changes in genetic merit. However, there was a wide variance in identifying which breeding system provided the greatest benefit when calves were marketed as feeder cattle. Retaining ownership through finish and marketing either on the cash market or on a grid proved to be advantageous to AI in all of the estrous synchronization protocols provided. The economic advantage ranged from $142.98 to $214.16 per head compared with marketing at weaning. The spreadsheet developed provides a useful tool for evaluating the economic impacts of breeding system decisions.     

Effects of corticosteroids on responses of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin.

Corticosteroids given in vivo altered the response of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of calves. Lymphocytes were cultured and stimulated in vitro with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After an initial suppression of lymphocyte responses to PHA, there was a rapid return to normal. It is concluded that, in calves, short-term, high-dose immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids produces a population of lymphocytes resistant to corticosteroids, possibly by destruction of corticosteroid-sensitive lymphocytes.     

Serum liver enzyme and histopathologic changes in calves with chronic and chronic-delayed Senecio jacobaea toxicosis.

Progressive changes in serum enzyme activity and liver histologic features were monitored in calves fed tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)-contaminated pellets. The experiments were designed to simulate natural intoxicant ingestion conditions in relationship to the dose and duration of exposure to the toxic plant to correlate early laboratory diagnostic changes with the natural progression of the disease, thereby facilitating early diagnosis and intervention by veterinary clinicians. Eight calves were fed tansy ragwort and 4 additional calves served as controls. In group 1, 4 calves were continuously fed dried tansy ragwort mixed in a pelleted feed at a 5% concentration by dry weight until terminal liver disease developed. Serum liver enzyme (alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase) activities were monitored at weekly intervals in these calves and in the 2 controls. In group 2, 4 calves were fed the same contaminated feed for only 60 days, with return to normal feed for the duration of the trial. Two additional calves served as controls. Their liver enzyme activities were monitored every other week in conjunction with percutaneous liver biopsies. All 8 calves fed tansy ragwort-contaminated pellets developed terminal hepatopathy in either a chronic pattern (n = 6) or a chronic-delayed pattern (n = 2), with the onset of a moribund state or sudden death at 11 to 17 weeks and 27 to 51 weeks, respectively. The calves were euthanatized when classic terminal signs of hepatic encephalopathy first became evident. The clinicopathologic patterns of chronic and chronic-delayed toxicoses were typical of over 5,000 cases of field tansy toxicosis diagnosed at the diagnostic laboratory. Serum glutamate dehydrogenase was the first enzyme to increase in most animals, with a short-term increase to peak values followed by a rapid return to normal. This enzyme change was followed by increases in alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Serum enzyme changes preceded development of recognizable histologic lesions. Vacuolar changes in hepatocyte nuclei, biliary hyperplasia, and fibrosis sequentially developed in liver biopsy specimens from each animal, whereas megalocytosis was not a predominant feature until necropsy. On the basis of our findings, we suggest that the optimal tests for diagnosis of pyrrolizidine alkaloid intoxication should consist of liver biopsy and determination of concurrent serum liver-enzyme activities.     

Investigation of the effects of transport and lairage on hydration state and resting behaviour of calves for export.

Plasma sodium concentrations, packed cell volume, total plasma protein concentration and dermal skinfold thickness were used to assess the state of hydration of 113 transported calves before and after lairage and in 30 control calves on the farm of origin. Skin thickness increased significantly (P less than 0.05) and total protein increased slightly during transport and decreased during lairage. These changes suggest that transport may cause dehydration and lairage may help in recovery. Plasma potassium concentration decreased during transport, but the effect was inversely related to the distance travelled, and the concentration increased during lairage. These changes are consistent with recovery from initially high cortisol levels at loading. The resting behaviour of 150 transported calves was recorded hourly for six hours. More time was spent resting and sleeping by the transported calves than has been reported for non-transported calves and more still by small transported calves, suggesting that transport is exhausting, that lairage helps recovery and that small calves are more adversely affected. During lairage the numbers of calves asleep decreased to values reported for normal calves, suggesting that 10 hours lairage was adequate. However, small calves did not return to their normal rest patterns within the observation period.     

Hematology in the regressive phase of bovine psoroptic scabies

Hereford calves were infested with Psoroptes ovis. Hemograms were evaluated weekly for 7 weeks during progressively extensive dermatitis and compared to uninfested control calves. Calves were treated with ivermectin and weekly hemograms were compared for 4 weeks during regression of clinical disease. They developed extensive dermatitis and marked decreases in total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. Infested calves also had moderate anemia, increased plasma proteins, and increased plasma fibrinogen. Some calves developed marked eosinophilia. Within 1 week after ivermectin treatment, nearly all hematologic parameters returned or began to return to normal values, even though scabs remained on the calves at 4 weeks. Peak eosinophilia in calves which responded occurred 1 to 2 weeks after treatment. The findings indicate that most of the hematologic changes occurring with psoroptic scabies in cattle are associated with living mites and not with toxic substances in the scab on the skin surface.     

Further studies on the clinical features and clinicopathological findings of a syndrome of metabolic acidosis with minimal dehydration in neonatal calves.

A syndrome of metabolic acidosis of unknown etiology was diagnosed in twelve beef calves 7 to 31 days old. Principal clinical signs were unconsciousness or depression concomitant with weakness and ataxia. Other signs included weak or absent suckle and menace reflexes, succussable nontympanic fluid sounds in the anterior abdomen, and a slow, deep thoracic and abdominal pattern of respiration. The variation in clinical signs between calves was highly correlated (r = 0.87, P less than 0.001) with their acid-base (base deficit) status. Abnormal laboratory findings included reduced venous blood pH, pCO2 and bicarbonate ion concentration as well as hyperchloremia, elevated blood urea nitrogen, increased anion gap and neutrophilic leukocytosis with a left shift. Sodium bicarbonate solution administered intravenously effectively raised blood pH and improved demeanor, ambulation and appetite. All calves did well following a return to a normal acid-base status.     

Economic considerations for diagnostic and control options for Neospora caninum-induced abortions in endemically infected herds of beef cattle

OBJECTIVE: To compare economic outcome for herds not exposed to Neospora caninum with that for herds with various seroprevalences of N caninum infection and evaluate 3 control strategies. DESIGN: Economic simulation model. SAMPLE POPULATION: Beef herds with various seroprevalences of N caninum infection. PROCEDURE: A 5-year simulation model was used. Control strategies that were evaluated included culling females that fail to calve, selling seropositive females and purchasing seronegative replacements, and excluding the daughters of seropositive dams as potential replacements. RESULTS: For a 5-year period with low prices for feeder calves, endemic N caninum infection decreased mean return to fixed assets by 22.2% when true seroprevalence was 10% and by 29.9% when true seroprevalence was 70%. Percentage decrease in return to fixed assets was less dramatic when a 5-year period with high prices for feeder calves was evaluated. Analysis indicated that 2 control strategies (culling females that fail to give birth to a calf and selling seropositive female cattle and purchasing seronegative replacement female cattle) were not likely to be economically beneficial. The third control strategy (testing the entire herd for N caninum infection and excluding the female offspring of seropositive dams as replacements) appeared to be a reasonable control strategy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For the assumptions in the model, endemic N caninum infection decreases return to fixed assets for cow-calf herds. Of the potential control strategies evaluated, testing the entire herd for N caninum infection and excluding the daughters of seropositive dams as potential replacements provided the best economic return.)     

Association of serologic status for Neospora caninum with postweaning weight gain and carcass measurements in beef calves

OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence for Neospora caninum in a population of beef calves in a feedlot and the association of serologic status with postweaning weight gain and carcass measurements. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. ANIMALS: 1,009 weaned beef steers from 92 herds. PROCEDURE: Samples were obtained from all steers at time of arrival at a feedlot. Serologic status for Neospora spp was determined, using an agglutination test. Results of serologic testing were compared with calf growth and carcass data, using multivariate regression with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Of 1,009 calves, 131 (12.98%) were seropositive, and 54 of 92 (58.7%) consignments had > or = 1 seropositive calf. Median within-consignment prevalence for consignments in which there was > or = 1 seropositive calf was 20%. Seropositive status was associated with significant reductions in average daily gain, live body weight at slaughter, and hot carcass weight and an increase in ribeye area-to-hot carcass weight ratio. Seropositive status also was associated with significant increases in cost of treatment and significant reductions in income. Sick seropositive calves had the highest cost of treatment. An economic loss of $15.62/calf was projected for seropositive calves. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Significant reductions in postweaning weight gain, carcass weight, and economic return were associated with detection of antibodies to N caninum in beef calves in a feedlot.     

A survey of the methods used by farmers to castrate calves in New Zealand

AIMS: To identify the methods used to castrate calves and the age at which castration is carried out on farms in New Zealand. METHODS: A survey was carried out by questionnaire sent to the 14,000 recipients of Meat Matters produced by Meat New Zealand. The questionnaires on return were analysed on a national and regional basis. RESULTS: Of the 3,788 respondents, 74% (2,825) castrated calves on their farms. Of these 2,825 respondents 85% (2,403) used a rubber ring, 18% (512) carried out surgical castration and only a few respondents, 25, used a clamp. The ring was used on calves with an average age of 2.2 months and 93% of calves castrated by ring were castrated during the first 3 months of life. Surgical castration was carried out on calves with an average age of 4.3 months, 54% of them were castrated in the first 3 months of life and 39% during the following 3 months. Respondents from the West Coast (40%), Otago (38%) and Southland (50%) were more likely to use surgical castration than respondents from elsewhere (<17%). Local anaesthetic was used by only 3% (94) of respondents and a similar percentage employed a veterinarian to do the castration. CONCLUSIONS: There are marked regional differences in methodology used for castration of calves. The survey gives a sound basis for future research into humane and cost effective methods.     

Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica after intrapulmonary inoculation.

Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica were evaluated by measuring immunoglobulin production in blood for 9 days and in pulmonary lavage fluid for 7 days after intrapulmonary inoculation. Clinical signs, pulmonary lesions, pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response, and amount of antigen in lavage fluid were used to evaluate the response of calves to challenge with P haemolytica. The pulmonary response consisted of production of IgG, IgE, and IgM antibodies to P haemolytica antigens and a 17- to 68-fold increase of cells in lavage fluid 8 hours after inoculation, with a gradual decrease toward normal. Antibodies of the IgM isotype to P haemolytica were demonstrated as early as 8 hours through 7 days after inoculation in 3 of 3 calves. Of the anti-P haemolytica isotypes, IgM was found in the highest concentration. In all of the inoculated calves, IgE was found 1 to 2 days after inoculation, and IgG was found in 2 of 3 inoculated calves from day 1 through 7 after inoculation. Detection of IgG correlated with smaller pulmonary lesions. Immunoglobulin A was not detected in lavage fluid. Serum was evaluated for IgG and IgM antibody response to P haemolytica. Specific IgM was detectable 5 days after inoculation, and IgG was detectable 7 days after inoculation. Pasteurella haemolytica antigens were not detected in serum or plasma. A transient increase in neutrophil count was found 8 hours after inoculation, with return to baseline values by 24 hours after inoculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An outbreak of Akabane virus—induced abnormalities in calves after agistment in an endemic region

SUMMARY: During 1988, 2 farmers in the Bega district agisted pregnant cattle in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. On return to the district to calve, 54% of calves from herd 1 and 30% of calves from herd 2 were affected with congenital arthrogryposls or hydranencephaly caused by Akabane virus infection. Field observations and laboratory findings from this outbreak are presented, illustrating the danger of moving immunologlcally naive animals into areas where Akabane virus is endemic.     

西门塔尔牛改良新疆博州当地蒙古牛效果分析

用西门塔尔牛细管冻精为父本,以新疆博州当地蒙古牛为母本进行杂交改良,对二品种的杂交一代(西蒙F1)犊牛的生长性状与屠宰性状进行了测定与分析。结果西蒙F1初生重公犊比蒙古牛提高36．96％,母犊提高38．03%;断奶重公犊提高153．49％,母犊提高146．08％;同龄西蒙F1屠宰率、净肉率比本地蒙古牛提高13．03％、18%。平均每头西蒙F1比本地蒙古牛多产肉135kg,按每kg牛肉15元计,可增加收益2 025元。用细管冻精配种比饲养公牛配种可降低成本130元。     

The effect of different combinations of lignocaine, ketoprofen, xylazine and tolazoline on the acute cortisol response to dehorning in calves

AIMS: The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the effect of xylazine and tolazoline, with and without lignocaine, on the cortisol response of calves following amputation dehorning and (b) to assess the effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ketoprofen) and local anaesthesia on the cortisol response of calves to amputation dehorning. METHODS: Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in 100 dehorned or non-dehorned 3-month-old calves over an 8-h period following five different sedative/analgesic or control treatments. Sedative/analgesic treatments were: control (no anaesthesia); local anaesthesia and ketoprofen; local anaesthesia and xylazine; local anaesthesia, xylazine and tolazoline; and xylazine only. Within each sedative/analgesic treatment group, half the calves (n=10 per group) were amputation dehorned and half were not dehorned. RESULTS: The change in plasma cortisol concentrations in calves dehorned after being given ketoprofen and local anaesthesia did not differ significantly from that of non-dehorned control calves for at least 8 h. In contrast, the cortisol response of dehorned calves not given analgesic drugs peaked 30 min after dehorning and lasted >4 h. Xylazine injected before dehorning significantly reduced but did not eliminate the peak of the cortisol response. When both xylazine and local anaesthesia were administered before dehorning the peak in the cortisol response was virtually eliminated. In the dehorned calves that received xylazine with or without local anaesthesia, cortisol concentration increased significantly 3 h after dehorning and did not return to baseline until at least 5 h later. When tolazoline was administered shortly after xylazine, it caused a marked cortisol response, higher than the response to any other treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Combining ketoprofen and local anaesthesia minimised the cortisol response, and by inference the pain-induced distress, following amputation dehorning in calves. Xylazine reduced the initial cortisol response to dehorning but not as much as when local anaesthesia was also given. The increase in cortisol concentration from 3-8 h after dehorning in calves given xylazine alone or in combination with local anaesthesia suggests that calves experienced pain-induced distress during this time and that xylazine had no long-term analgesic effect. Tolazoline, used to reverse the sedative effects of xylazine, caused a marked cortisol response in calves via a mechanism which remains unclear.     

Effect of a once-daily suckling program on gastrointestinal parasitism in Angus cows and calves

Over a 2-year period involving a total of 168 Angus cows and their calves, 2 studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of once-daily suckling on cow reproduction, calf growth, and gastrointestinal parasitism. Experiment I compared 2 restricted suckling (RS) groups with 1 normal suckling (NS) group. Each group consisted of 24 cows with their calves (24 cows-calves/group = 24 cows and 24 calves/group). In the RS groups, suckling by the calves was restricted to once a day for 45 days, and then the calves were allowed to suckle normally throughout the remainder of the experiment. In the NS group, the calves suckled normally throughout the experiment. Experiment II compared 2 groups of RS cow-calves (24 cow-calves/group) with 2 groups of 24 NS cow-calves/group. In experiment I, there were no differences (P less than 0.05) in pregnancy rate or in the average number of nematode eggs/g of feces (epg) between the cows from the 2 treatment groups. The RS calves consistently had higher epg counts than did the NS calves during the 45 days of RS (169 vs 62 epg, P less than 0.05) and from the time of their return to pasture until weaning (266 vs 186 EPG, P = 0.27). The RS calves also had a higher average coccidia oocyst count during the RS period only. In experiment II, RS cows had a higher pregnancy rate (87.6% vs 66.0%, P less than 0.05) and a shorter postpartum interval (83 vs 101 days, P less than 0.05) than did NS cows.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effects of cold stress on neonatal calves. I. Clinical condition and pathological lesions.

Newborn Holstein-Friesian calves were cold stressed by immersion in water at 15 to 17 degrees C until the core body temperature was lowered by 10 degrees C. Non-cold stressed calves were immersed in water at thermoneutral temperature (35 to 37 degrees C). The time required to lower the core body temperature of the cold stressed calves by 10 degrees C was 172 +/- 87 minutes (mean +/- SD). The time required for the core body temperature of the cold stressed calves to return to normal after immersion was 400 +/- 140 minutes (mean +/- SD). Differences were observed between cold and noncold stressed calves in the shivering response during immersion and the clinical condition after immersion. Cold-induced pathological lesions were confined to tissues located peripherally, particularly in the hind legs. Significant differences were observed between cold and noncold stressed calves in the incidence of subcutaneous edema in the ventral sternum (P less than or equal to 0.025), subcutaneous hemorrhage in the hind legs (P less than or equal to 0.025), synovitis (P less than or equal to 0.025) and hemorrhage (P less than or equal to 0.05) of the synovial membranes of the hock joints and hemorrhage (P less than or equal to 0.05) into the hock joint cavities.     

Cortisol responses of calves to two methods of disbudding used with or without local anaesthetic

Cattle are disbudded or dehorned using a variety of methods. In this study, plasma cortisol concentrations were used to monitor distress in 6-week-old Friesian calves during the 9 hours following disbudding. Disbudding was carried out with a cautery iron or a dehorning scoop, with or without local anaesthetic. Cautery caused a transient rise in cortisol concentrations which returned to control values within 3 hours. The cortisol response to the scoop was more prolonged, as the plasma cortisol concentrations did not return to control levels until 7.5 hours after disbudding. The administration of a local anaesthetic reduced the cortisol response during the first 2 hours after scoop dehorning. This reduced response was followed by a delayed rise in cortisol concentrations between 2 and 7.5 hours. Cautery caused less distress than the scoop. The administration of local anaesthetic had little effect in alleviating distress in calves disbudded using the cautery iron.     

The effect of different combinations of lignocaine,ketoprofen, xylazine and tolazoline on the acute cortisol response to dehorning in calves

AIMS: The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the effect of xylazine and tolazoline, with and without lignocaine, on the cortisol response of calves following amputation dehorning and (b) to assess the effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ketoprofen) and local anaesthesia on the cortisol response of calves to amputation dehorning.

METHODS: Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in 100 dehorned or non-dehorned 3-month-old calves over an 8-h period following five different sedative/analgesic or control treatments. Sedative/analgesic treatments were: control (no anaesthesia); local anaesthesia and ketoprofen; local anaesthesia and xylazine; local anaesthesia, xylazine and tolazoline; and xylazine only. Within each sedative/analgesic treatment group, half the calves (n=10 per group) were amputation dehorned and half were not dehorned.

RESULTS: The change in plasma cortisol concentrations in calves dehorned after being given ketoprofen and local anaesthesia did not differ significantly from that of non-dehorned control calves for at least 8 h. In contrast, the cortisol response of dehorned calves not given analgesic drugs peaked 30 min after dehorning and lasted >4 h. Xylazine injected before dehorning significantly reduced but did not eliminate the peak of the cortisol response. When both xylazine and local anaesthesia were administered before dehorning the peak in the cortisol response was virtually eliminated. In the dehorned calves that received xylazine with or without local anaesthesia, cortisol concentration increased significantly 3 h after dehorning and did not return to baseline until at least 5 h later. When tolazoline was administered shortly after xylazine, it caused a marked cortisol response, higher than the response to any other treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Combining ketoprofen and local anaesthesia minimised the cortisol response, and by inference the pain- induced distress, following amputation dehorning in calves. Xylazine reduced the initial cortisol response to dehorning but not as much as when local anaesthesia was also given. The increase in cortisol concentration from 3–8 h after dehorning in calves given xylazine alone or in combination with local anaesthesia suggests that calves experienced pain-induced distress during this time and that xylazine had no long-term analgesic effect. Tolazoline, used to reverse the sedative effects of xylazine, caused a marked cortisol response in calves via a mechanism which remains unclear.     

Castration of calves: a survey among Swiss suckler beef farmers

In fall 2004, a survey of a representative sample of 1185 Swiss suckler beef farmers was carried out by questionnaire (return rate 51.9%). 32.7% of the respondents castrated their calves without the help of a veterinarian, 37.8% mandated a veterinarian to carry out the castrations and 29.4% did not castrate their bull calves at all. On average, 8 calves were castrated per farm and year at an average age of 7 days when the castration was carried out by a farmer or 34 days when the castration was carried out by a veterinarian. Almost all farmers castrated their calves with the rubber ring, and a majority considered no other method as feasible. 73.9% of the veterinarians used the Burdizzo technique, 14.9% applied rubber rings, and 11.2% performed a surgical procedure. 22.6% of the farmers and 85.4% of the veterinarians used sedation; local anaesthesia was performed in 32.1% of the castrations carried out by farmers and in 84.5% of the castrations carried out by veterinarians. 65.7% of the farmers were concerned by the change of the Swiss Animal Protection Ordinance (2001), when pain relief became mandatory. 47.6% of these farmers changed their castration routine: 53.1% now mandated a veterinarian, 33.0% used sedation or local anaesthesia and 8.9% abandoned castration of their calves. 59.8% of the farmers intended to participate in a future course for laymen, to study and train the technique of local anaesthesia for castration. Castration of their calves is for many suckler beef farmers an inevitable husbandry procedure. The political goal, that all calves shall be castrated with local anaesthesia can only be reached when livestock owners are informed about the distress caused by the castration and convinced of the benefit of the local anaesthesia.Veterinarians are important information carriers in this process. The implementation also produces work, be it the more complex castration procedure or the education of the farmers who want to carry out the local anaesthesia themselves.     

复合尿素添加剂代替豆饼饲喂小肥牛试验研究

作者对利用复合尿素添加剂代替豆饼饲喂小肥牛的增重效果进行比较试验，结果表明，试验组头均总增重１３６．０ｋｇ，日均增重１．１３ｋｇ，比对照组头均总增重１０９．０ｋｇ，日均增重０．９１ｋｇ分别提高２４．８％和２４．２％，组间增重差异显著。试验缓头均收益比对照组多２３５元。     

Consequences of failure of the reticular groove reflex in veal calves fed milk replacer

A number of problems seen in veal calves are associated with insufficient adaptation to the changes in husbandry connected with the fattening system. These problems include chronic tympanitis, chronic vomiting, cachexia, unthriftiness, abomasal erosions and ulcers. Some of these problems are associated with failure of the reticular groove reflex, and result in ruminal drinking. Persistent ruminal drinking causes a syndrome characterised by a variety of symptoms such as unthriftiness, severe growth retardation, inappetence, recurrent tympany, abdominal distension, a long dry haircoat and clay-like faeces. Clinical studies performed to investigate the pathogenesis of the syndrome are described. It was found that the milk was stored in the rumen and was partly broken down. The presence of milk in the rumen induced typical changes in the ruminal mucosa (hyper/parakeratosis) and also inhibited casein clot formation in the abdomasum. The small intestinal mucosa showed villous atrophy. After training, the reticular groove reflex was re-established in a number of patients but the growth rate of these calves did not return to normal.