Surgical stabilisation of the stifle in cranial cruciate ligament injury in cattle

Surgical stabilisation of cranial cruciate ligament injury was performed on 23 stifles in 22 dairy cattle ranging in age from 11 months to 14 years. Duration of time from injury until surgery varied from two days to three years. A row of Lembert sutures was placed in both the lateral and medial retinacular tissues. In addition, an imbrication suture was placed from the lateral femorotibial ligament to the lateral or middle patellar ligament in five cattle. External support was used in 15 cattle in the form of a modified Robert Jones/Thomas-Schroeder splint. Thirteen cattle improved markedly, four recovered completely and three improved moderately. Surgery was unsuccessful on seven cases. When surgery was unsuccessful, moderate to severe lesions of degenerative joint disease were usually present.     

The use of a stifle flexion device to manage avulsion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in a cat

This report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a traumatic avulsion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in a three-and-a-half-year-old male neutered Domestic Shorthaired cat. Surgical repair was achieved using a modified three-loop pulley suture pattern passed through a suture anchor inserted at the point of origin of the tendon and around the fabella. A stifle flexion device was utilised during the postoperative period to protect the repair. Follow-up at five months showed a return to normal function. This is the first report of avulsion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius in a cat.     

Electroencephalographic observation on sheep and cattle with experimental cerebrocortical necrosis

Nine Suffolk sheep and 4 Holstein cattle were employed to observe electroencephalographic changes in experimental cerebrocortical necrosis. Amprolium (600 mg/kg/day) alone was given intraruminally 6 sheep and 4 cattle, all of which showed neurological signs and abnormal electroencephalograms. Both amprolium and thiamine (200 mg/day) and thiamine (50 mg/day) alone were given 2 and 1 sheep, respectively, as controls, which did not show any abnormal signs. Abnormal electroencephalograms included continuous slow waves and long-lasting spindles, both of which appeared diffusely and were seen subclinically or with neurological signs. The spindles consisted of slow waves or sharp- (or spike-) and-slow-wave complexes with or without convulsive seizures even during the convulsion stage. Conversely, the seizures occurred with the spindles or slow waves.     

Diagnostic ultrasonography in cattle with abdominal fat necrosis

This study describes the ultrasonographic findings in 14 cows with abdominal fat necrosis. Ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed the presence of heterogeneous hyperechoic masses and hyperechoic omentum with localized masses floating in a hypoechoic peritoneal fluid. A hyperechogenic rim was imaged around both kidneys. The intestines were coated with hyperechoic capsules and the intestinal lumens were constricted. Ultrasonographic examination of the pancreatic parenchyma showed an overall increased echogenicity which was homogenously distributed in 3 cases. A diagnosis of abdominal fat necrosis was made with ultrasound-guided biopsy of the echogenic masses, and thereafter at postmortem examination. Results from this study demonstrate the efficacy of ultrasonography as an imaging modality for antemortem diagnosis of abdominal lipomatosis in cattle. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first that illustrates ultrasonographic findings in cattle affected with abdominal lipomatosis.     

Radiographic features of a lateral extracapsular wire suture in the canine cranial cruciate deficient stifle

Radiographs of 74 dogs (84 stifles) presented with a cranial cruciate ligament rupture and surgically treated using a lateral extracapsular wire (LEW) were reviewed. A strand of orthopaedic wire was surgically placed caudally around the lateral fabella and through a predrilled hole in the tibial crest. At six week follow-up, the LEW was broken at least once in 26 of 33 stifles, predominantly in the area of the lateral fabella. In five stifles, the LEW had slipped off the fabella and was displaced distally along the gastrocnemius muscle. Six months after surgery, the LEW was often broken at several sites. LEW migration was rare. Osteolysis and sclerosis at the site of LEW penetration through the tibial crest occurred in about two-thirds of the stifles examined.     

Lipogenic and lipolytic activities in isolated adipocytes from cattle with fat necrosis

The metabolic activity and cellularity of adipocytes isolated from the abdominal adipose tissue of normal heifers and heifers with fat necrosis were compared. The basal rate of U-¹⁴C glucose incorporation into total lipids in adipocytes from the periphery of the necrotic mass was higher than that in the colonic mesentery of both the affected and normal heifers. In the affected animals, adipocytes from the mesentery of the spiral colon and adipocytes from the periphery of the necrotic mass failed significantly to increase the incorporation of labelled acetate and glucose, respectively, in response to insulin. In the presence of adrenalin, adipocytes from the colonic mesentery and the periphery of the necrotic mass of the affected heifers released more glycerol than adipocytes from the colonic mesentery of normal animals. In addition, the mean diameters of adipocytes from the colonic mesentery and the periphery of the necrotic mass of the affected heifers were significantly greater than those from the colonic mesentery of normal animals. These results indicate that excessive fattiness in abdominal adipose tissue may predispose cattle to fat necrosis.     

The relationship between ultrasound measurements and carcass fat thickness and longissimus muscle area in beef cattle

Five hundred thirty-four steers were evaluated over a 2-yr period to determine the accuracy of ultrasonic estimates of carcass 12th-rib fat thickness (CFAT) and longissimus muscle area (CLMA). Within 5 d before slaughter, steers were ultrasonically measured for 12th-rib fat thickness (UFAT) and longissimus muscle area (ULMA) using an Aloka 500V real-time ultrasound machine equipped with a 17.2-cm, 3.5-MHz linear transducer. Overall, correlation coefficients between ultrasound and carcass fat and longissimus muscle area were 0.89 and 0.86, respectively. Correlations for UFAT with CFAT were similar between years (0.86 and 0.90), whereas the relationship between ULMA and CLMA was stronger in yr 1 (r = 0.91; n = 282) than in yr 2 (r = 0.79; n = 252). Differences between ultrasonic and carcass measurements were expressed on both an actual (FDIFF and RDIFF) and absolute (FDEV and RDEV) basis. Mean FDIFF and RDIFF indicated that ultrasound underestimated CFAT by 0.06 cm and overestimated CLMA by 0.71 cm2 across both years. Overall mean FDEV and RDEV, which are indications of the average error rate, were 0.16 cm and 3.39 cm2, respectively. Analysis of year effects revealed that FDIFF, FDEV, and RDEV were greater (P < 0.01) in magnitude in yr 1. Further analysis of FDEV indicated that leaner (CFAT < 0.51 cm) cattle were overestimated and that fatter (CFAT > 1.02 cm) cattle were underestimated with ultrasound. Similarly, steers with small CLMA (< 71.0 cm2) were overestimated, and steers with large CLMA (> 90.3 cm2) were underestimated. The thickness of CFAT had an effect (P < 0.05) on the error of UFAT and ULMA measurements, with leaner animals being more accurately evaluated for both traits. Standard errors of prediction (SEP) adjusted for bias of ultrasound measurements were 0.20 cm and 4.49 cm2 for UFAT and ULMA, respectively. Differences in SEP were observed for ULMA, but not UFAT, by year. These results indicate that ultrasound can be an accurate estimator of carcass traits in live cattle when measurements are taken by an experienced, well-trained technician, with only small differences in accuracy between years.     

Evaluation of ultrasonic estimates of carcass fat thickness and longissimus muscle area in beef cattle.

Yearling crossbred feedlot steers (n = 495) and heifers (n = 151) were ultrasonically measured at the 12-13th rib interface 24 h before slaughter to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonic measurements of fat thickness (BFU) and longissimus muscle area (LMAU) for prediction of actual carcass measures. Isonification was with an Aloka 210DX ultrasound unit equipped with a 12.5-cm, 3.0-MHz, linear array transducer by two technicians. Carcass fat thickness (BFC) and longissimus muscle area (LMAC) were measured 48 h postmortem. Differences between ultrasonic and actual carcass measures were expressed in actual (BFDIFF and LMADIFF) and in absolute (magnitude of BFDIFF and magnitude of LMADIFF) terms for backfat and longissimus muscle area, respectively. When expressed as percentages of the actual carcass measures, the average absolute differences indicated error rates of 20.6% for backfat and 9.4% for longissimus muscle area. Average actual differences (BFDIFF and LMADIFF) indicated that underprediction occurred more often than overprediction for both measures. The BFU was within .25 cm of BFC 70% of the time, and LMAU was within 6.5 cm2 of LMAC 53% of the time. Ultrasound measurements BFU and LMAU more accurately predicted BFC and LMAC in thinner and more lightly muscled cattle, respectively. Simple correlation coefficients between ultrasonic and carcass measures were .75 (P less than .01) for BF and .60 (P less than .01) for LMA. Analyses of variance of absolute differences between ultrasonic and carcass measures indicated no significant differences to exist between technicians. Predictive accuracy of ultrasonic measures did not change as the level of experience of technicians increased during the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Unusual muscle and tendon disorders of the forelimb in the dog

Five dogs with unusual muscle and tendon disorders of the forelimb are described. In one dog, mineralisation of the tendon of insertion of the supraspinatus muscle was treated surgically but lameness returned following the resumption of exercise. Of two cases of avulsion of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis muscle, one was successfully managed conservatively while the other needed surgical intervention to resolve the lameness. A single case of chronic avulsion/rupture of the tendon of insertion of the extensor carpi radialis muscle was successfully managed conservatively while a case of medial displacement of the biceps brachii tendon was surgically corrected by repair of the transverse humeral ligament. The aetiology, diagnosis and management of the above conditions is discussed.     

Genetic and environmental factors affecting ultrasound measures of longissimus muscle area and backfat thickness in Nelore cattle

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic and environmental factors affecting records of longissimus muscle area (LMA) and backfat thickness (BF) obtained between the 12th and 13th ribs, and rump fat thickness (RF) between the hook and pin bones, measured by real-time ultrasound in Nelore cattle. Also, weight records of 22,778 animals born from 1998 to 2003, in ten farms across six Brazilian states were used. Carcass traits as measured by ultrasound of the live animal were recorded from 2002 to 2004 in 2590 males and females with ages varying from 450 to 599 days. Fixed models including farm, year and season of birth, sex and type of feed effects, and the covariates age of dam (AOD) and age of animal at measurement were used to study the effect of environmental factors on these traits. The genetic parameters for LMA, BF and RF were estimated with two and three-trait animal models with 120-day weights using a restricted maximum likelihood method. All environmental effects significantly affected carcass traits, with the exception of year of birth for BF and RF and AOD for LMA. The heritability estimates for LMA, BF and RF were 0.35, 0.51 and 0.39, respectively. Standard errors obtained in one-trait analyses were from 0.07 to 0.09. Genetic correlation estimates between LMA and the two traits of subcutaneous fat were low (close to zero) and 0.74 between BF and RF, indicating that the selection for LMA should not cause antagonism in the genetic improvement of subcutaneous fat measured by real-time ultrasound.     

A study of operator effects on ultrasonic measures of fat depth and longissimus muscle area in cattle, sheep and pigs

Use of real-time ultrasonography in meat animal improvement programs has increased largely as a result of the perceived accuracy of such instruments in measuring longissimus muscle area (LMA) and fat depth (BF). The objective of this study was to examine operator effects for ultrasonic determination of BF and LMA in market-weight cattle, sheep and pigs. The day prior to slaughter, five persons scanned 45 pigs, 32 sheep and 18 cattle at the last rib using an A-mode Ithaco Model 731AM101 body composition meter (ABF) and a Johnson and Johnson Ultrasound 210DX B-mode scanner fitted with a 3.0 MHz probe. All operators measured their own B-mode recordings (OBF, OLMA); an independent, experienced technician also obtained measurements from all recordings (TBF, TLMA). Species x machine x operator interaction effects were detected (P less than .001) for ultrasonic BF. Within-species analyses also revealed that the machine x operator interaction was important (P less than .001) for all species. Analyses of ABF, OBF, TBF, OLMA and TLMA detected species x operator interactions (P less than .001) for all traits except TLMA (P less than .20). Assuming a random model with animal, operator and residual effects, variance components were estimated by maximum likelihood for each species. Repeatabilities, calculated as the intraclass correlation among animals for BF and LMA scanned and interpreted by different operators, were .13, .21 and .51 (OBF) and .28, .15 and .29 (OLMA) for cattle, sheep and pigs, respectively, indicating the importance of operator effects. Repeatabilities of TBF were .90, .42 and .68 and of TLMA were .19, .55 and .65 for cattle, sheep and pigs, respectively, indicating the importance of image interpretation in determining operator effects associated with use of the 210DX B-mode scanner. Technical training standards must, therefore, be established for operators of such equipment.