The effect of different combinations of local anaesthesia,sedative and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on daily growth rates of dairy calves after disbudding

AIM: To assess the effect of sedation and local anaesthesia (LA) at disbudding, and the addition of meloxicam or ketoprofen treatment, on weight gain in dairy calves following disbudding.

METHODS: Friesian-Jersey cross calves, from four dairy farms, were enrolled when 3–6 weeks old. All calves (n=271) were disbudded by veterinary personnel and randomly assigned to six groups: 136 were disbudded without sedation or LA, of which 31 received 20 mg meloxicam S/C and 75 received 150 mg ketoprofen I/M. A further 135 were disbudded with sedation (0.25 mg/kg xylazine I/M) and LA, of which 30 also received meloxicam and 75 received ketoprofen. Calves were weighed 3 days before, and 15 and 30 days after, disbudding (Day 0). Daily weight gain was analysed using mixed models and ANOVA.

RESULTS: Complete results were obtained from 263 calves. From Day ?3 to Day 15, the growth rate of calves disbudded without pain relief (0.53 (95% CI=0.47–0.60) kg/day) was less that of calves disbudded with some form of pain relief (0.65 (95% CI=0.62–0.68) kg/d; p=0.004). There was no difference between the effect of meloxicam or ketoprofen (p=1.00). An interaction between use of sedation and LA and additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) meant that NSAID treatment did not increase growth rates in calves disbudded with sedation and LA but did increase growth rates for calves disbudded without pain relief (p<0.05). From Day 16 to Day 30 there was no effect of NSAID treatment on growth rate, but calves receiving LA and sedation grew faster (0.74 (95% CI=0.69–0.80) kg/day) than calves disbudded without LA and sedation (0.66 (95% CI=0.61–0.71) kg/day; p=0.018). From Day ?3 to Day 30, calves disbudded with sedation and LA grew faster (0.71 (95%CI=0.64–0.77) kg/day) than calves disbudded without sedation and LA (0.60 (95% CI=0.55–0.65) kg/day; p=0.011). However, addition of NSAID to sedation and LA made no further difference to growth rates (p=0.69).

CONCLUSIONS: Dairy calves disbudded with no pain relief had slower growth rates than calves receiving pain relief. From Day 15 to 30 calves given no pain relief, or NSAID alone, grew more slowly than those receiving sedation and LA at disbudding. The addition of NSAID treatment to sedation and LA did not further increase growth rates.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study adds to the evidence that pain management when disbudding is beneficial for calf productivity as well as calf welfare.     

An epizootic of bovine ephemeral fever in New South Wales in 2008 associated with long-distance dispersal of vectors

Objective To report the rapid transmission of bovine ephemeral fever ( BEF) virus from north-western New South Wales south to the Victorian border in January 2008 and to present data that suggests an uncommon meteorological event caused this rapid southward dispersal of vectors. Procedure The locations of reported clinical cases, data from sentinel herds and results from a survey of cattle in the southern affected area were examined to delineate the distribution of virus transmission. Synoptic weather charts for January 2008 were examined for meteorological conditions that may have favoured movement of vectors in a southerly direction. Results Cases of BEF and exposure to BEF virus in NSW were confirmed west of the Great Dividing Range, extending from the Queensland border to Finley, on the far North Coast and around the Hunter Valley. A low-pressure system moved south across the state on 18–19 January 2008, preceding the first cases of BEF in the south of NSW by 1–2 days. Conclusion Heavy rainfall in December 2007 provided a suitable environment for vector breeding, resulting in the initiation of and support for continuing BEF virus transmission in north-western NSW. The movement of a low-pressure system south across central western NSW in mid-January 2008 after the commencement of BEF virus transmission in the north-west of the state provided a vehicle for rapid southward movement of infected vectors.     

Effect of handling and water stress on water status and rooting of loblolly pine stem cuttings

Two experiments were conducted to determine theeffect of handling, short-term storage, andinitial water stress on cutting water potential (_W) and rooting of loblolly pine(Pinus taeda L.) stem cuttings. First,stock plants and cuttings were measured for_W at predawn (04:00 a.m.) and earlymorning (09:00 a.m.). Cuttings were thensevered, wrapped in wet paper towels, andplaced in insulated containers for 2 or 7 h atapproximately 30 °C or for 21 h in coldstorage (4 °C). Water potentials ofcuttings were measured at the end of eachstorage period. Second, effects of initialwater stress on rooting performance of cuttingswere tested by withholding water from dormant(winter) and succulent (summer) cuttings forvarying periods of time. After each dryingtreatment, _W was measured on asample of cuttings and the remainder of thecuttings were transferred to a greenhouse withintermittent mist for 12 weeks.Storage of cuttings for long periods (7 to 21h) of time under low vapor pressure deficitconditions resulted in less negative waterpotentials of the cuttings. Dormant cuttingsrooted at higher percentages, even after beingexposed to lower values of _W Thelower values of _W in dormantcuttings could be attributed to higher ambientvapor pressure deficit during the drying phase. Results suggest that subjecting cuttings tomoderate water stress for a short period oftime does not adversely affect the rooting ofcuttings. Cutting water potentials below –1.7MPa appeared to reduce rooting of succulentcuttings and water potentials below –2.0 MPaaffected rooting in dormant cuttings.     

Utilization of polar metabolite profiling in the comparison of juvenile wood and compression wood in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)

Juvenile wood (JW) of conifers is often associated with compression wood (CW), with which it is sometimes believed to be identical. To determine whether JW and CW can be distinguished metabolically, we compared gas chromatographic profiles of 25 polar metabolites from rooted cuttings of a single loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) clone raised in controlled environment chambers and subject to three treatments: (1) grown erect with minimal wind sway (control); (2) swayed by wind from oscillating fans; and (3) with 30-cm growth increments successively bent at an angle of 45 degrees to the vertical. Profiles were compared by principal component analysis. Substantial increases in abundances of coniferin and p-glucocoumaryl alcohol separated immature JW-forming xylem tissues of the control trees from the CW-forming xylem of the bent and swayed trees.     

Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Induced Tendinopathy in Horses: Histologic Evaluation

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the treatment of tendinopathy induced in the superficial digital flexor tendon (TFDS) of horses, by using histologic evaluation. Six healthy crossbred geldings aged 8 to 15 years (12 ± 3) were used. The TFDS tendinopathy was provoked in both forelimbs, by intratendinous administration of 2.5 mg collagenase (2.5 mg/mL), and this procedure was considered as the beginning of the experimental phase. At 12 days after induction of the tendinopathy, the animals were subjected to the following treatments: (1) in the lesion caused in the right superficial digital flexor tendon (PRP-treated group), 2.5 mL PRP activated with calcium chloride at 0.0125 mol/L at concentrations from 320,000 to 500,000 platelets/μL, were injected; (2) in the tendinopathy of the left SDFT (control group), 2.5 mL 0.9% saline solution was administrated. Thirty-six days after the treatments, a biopsy of the injured area was performed for histologic evaluation. In both groups, the histologic analysis showed an increase in the fibroblastic density, as well as the presence of neovascularization, lymphocytes, and plasmocytes infiltrate and tissue organization at variable intensity. In the PRP-treated group, the SDFT was more organized, with the collagen fibers and fibroblasts being better arranged on the tendon matrix. The numbers of the fibroblasts and blood vessels did not differ between the groups. Histologic evaluation 36 days after tendinopathy showed that injuries under a single PRP treatment present a more uniform and organized tissue repair when compared with the control group.     

Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation on the European Eel Sperm Viability and Spermatozoa Morphology

The main objective of the present work was to study the effect of cryopreservation of European eel sperm both on the sperm viability and the spermatozoa head morphology. Spermatozoa morphology was evaluated with computer-assisted morphology analysis after collection in fresh samples, after adding the freezing medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide as cryoprotectant and, finally, after the cryopreservation process and thawing. Cell viability was assessed, in both fresh and thawed samples, by Hoechst 33258 staining. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to determine the percentage of motile cells and to measure motility parameters in sperm samples. A significant decrease of head perimeter (12.56%) and area (17.90%) was detected from spermatozoa in fresh to thawed samples, indicating that cells do not recover the original size after the cryopreservation process. CASA was used to measure the percentage of motile cells (51.9%) and spermatozoa motility parameters such as curvilinear, straight line and angular path velocities, as well as beating cross frequency. This technique was employed in the fresh sperm samples but proteins present at the freezing medium (L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine) made impossible to use this last technique in thawed samples. When sperm viability was assessed by Hoechst staining, a significant decrease of approximately 15% (73.10 vs 58.26%) of alive spermatozoa was registered from fresh to thawed samples. The percentage of motile cells measured by CASA in fresh samples (51.9%) was lower than the percentage of alive cells determined by Hoechst stainning, suggesting the existence of different batches of spermatozoa in different stages of development, even during the eight to tenth weeks of treatment, when the highest sperm quality was found.     

Dietary management of renal senescence and failure in dogs

SUMMARY The need for dietary management of renal senescence and the beginning of chronic renal failure should be evaluated in all middle-aged dogs. One survey found that 35% were overweight and 10% underweight; another that 25% were mildly azotaemic, with 5% showing slight clinical signs of chronic renal failure. Dogs in prime condition or overweight are candidates for a diet low in energy (for example 3.0–3.3 kcal/g dry matter, DM), but thin dogs need a higher caloric density (such as 4.0–4.5 kcal/g DM). Healthy older dogs need higher dietary protein than the minimum for maintenance (about 20% on a metabolisable energy basis, ME) of young mature dogs. Thin older dogs showing signs of renal insufficiency may benefit from moderate protein and near-minimal phosphorus in the diet. In dogs with chronic renal failure, clinical, haematological and biochemical responses to the combination of low protein (13–16% ME) and low phosphorus (0.4% DM) were positive in one clinical trial but not in three others. Only beneficial responses, such as less proteinuria, less renal impairment and lower mortality, have been reported for diets containing low phosphorus and moderate protein (20–31% ME). Individual dietary goals for energy, protein and phosphorus should be chosen for each middle-aged or older dog; these goals may be met by a single product or mixtures of products.     

Comparative Development of Embryonic Age by Organogenesis in Domestic Dogs and Cats

The precise determination of the embryonic chronology is very important in reproductive biotechnologies, especially in estimating embryonic age. Thus, there is a need for greater knowledge and standardization for determining the chronology of embryonic development and functional morphology. We describe aspects of embryonic development in two domestic carnivores to add knowledge about organ peculiarities and for application in veterinary practice, in prenatal development and in the biotechnology fields. We found that the development of differential characteristics of embryonic organs occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy for both species. Thus, using the combination of the crown‐rump length, macroscopic analysis and optical microscopy, it is possible to predict gestational age more precisely in animals that lack a defined breed and establish an embryonic pattern.