Improving smallholder cattle reproductive efficiency in Cambodia to address expanding regional beef demand

This study aimed to identify factors associated with cattle reproductive output in rural smallholder farms in Cambodia in order to determine the main causes of reproductive failure and design efficient interventions for improvement. The majority of the nation’s beef is produced on smallholder farms where productivity is constrained by poor animal reproductivity reflected in the recent livestock population decline of approximately 13 % from 2009 to 2013. Farmers (n?=?240) from 16 villages from five provinces were surveyed in mid-2015 to determine their baseline knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) associated with cattle reproduction. In addition, 16 case studies from three of these provinces were conducted to provide a more detailed assessment of current cattle reproductive husbandry practices. In order to assess the reproductive impact of previously implemented interventions, an endpoint KAP survey and longitudinal health and husbandry study from three Cambodian provinces conducted between 2008 and 2013 were also analysed. Three multivariable prediction models (two KAP and one longitudinal) identified the following significant factors associated with the reproductive outcomes ‘number of calves born’ or probability that cows ‘gave birth’: target feeding (P?=?0.074), growing vegetables (P?=?0.005), attitudes towards cattle vaccination (P?=?0.010), improving bull selection (P?=?0.032), local breed use (P?=?0.005), number of joining attempts (P?<?0.001), discontinuation of animal draught practices (P?=?0.003) and retention of breeding animals (P?<?0.001). The identification of significant factors and interventions in this study has led to intervention recommendations that can potentially improve reproductive efficiency, combat the declining cattle population and improve smallholder capacity to supply to expanding regional meat demand in South-East Asia and China.     

Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus lugdunensis in a dog with endocarditis

A 4-year-old male castrated Borzoi dog presented on referral for evaluation of pleural effusion, ventricular arrhythmias, and suspected dilated cardiomyopathy. Echocardiogram identified several masses along the chordae tendineae, as well as a long the annulus of the mitral valve. A blood culture was positive for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The dog was also positive for Bartonella DNA on PCR testing. Aggressive antibiotic therapy was instituted. However, the dog continued to have recurrent pleural effusion and progressive azotemia. The dog was euthanized 39 days after diagnosis. Necropsy confirmed the presence of intracardiac abscesses, thrombosis and endocarditis. S. lugdunensis is a recently identified rare cause of endocarditis in humans characterized by intracardiac abscess formation, highly destructive valvular lesions preferentially affecting the mitral valve and a high mortality rate. This is the first reported case of S. lugdunensis isolation in a dog with endocarditis.     

Complications after two transphyseal bridging techniques for treatment of angular limb deformities of the distal radius in 568 Thoroughbred yearlings

Reasons for performing study: Surgical correction of carpal angular limb deformities by growth retardation is commonly undertaken with a screws and tension band wire loop technique (S&W) or a single transphyseal screw (STS). This study compares complications after S&W and STS bridging in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings. Objective: To compare the prevalence of complications serious enough to require follow‐up radiographs following either S&W or STS surgery for growth manipulation in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings. Methods: Medical records and radiographs from Thoroughbred yearlings (age range 261–457 days) treated for carpal angular limb deformities at a single hospital over 2 years were reviewed. Each of the techniques was used exclusively during a single year. The complication threshold criterion for inclusion was the need for nonroutine radiographs of the operated site anytime after implant insertion or removal. Results: Of 568 horses, 253 received S&W and 315 received STS. Horses were of similar age at the time of surgery for STS and S&W. Single transphyseal screws were left in place for a significantly shorter amount of time (16 days). Sex, the limb(s) treated and medial vs. lateral placement were not significantly different between techniques. Complications included physitis post implant removal, metaphyseal collapse post implant removal, infection, overcorrection and seroma formation severe enough to require radiography. Physitis and metaphyseal collapse occurred significantly more frequently with STS compared with S&W. Infection, overcorrection and seromas were not significantly different between techniques. Conclusion: The STS and S&W techniques are both viable treatment options for correction of carpal angular limb deformities. However, horses treated with the STS technique have a significantly increased risk of developing physitis or metaphyseal collapse. Potential relevance: Horses treated with STS bridging have a significantly increased risk of developing the post correction complications of moderate to severe physitis and metaphyseal collapse compared with horses treated with S&W bridging.     

Accelerometer validity and placement for detection of changes in physical activity in dogs under controlled conditions on a treadmill

The objective of the research was to determine the optimal location and method of attachment for accelerometer-based motion sensors, and to validate their ability to differentiate rest and increases in speed in healthy dogs moving on a treadmill. Two accelerometers were placed on a harness between the scapulae of dogs with one in a pouch and one directly attached to the harness. Two additional accelerometers were placed (pouched and not pouched) ventrally on the dog's collar. Data were recorded in 1s epochs with dogs moving in stages lasting 3 min each on a treadmill: (1) at rest, lateral recumbency, (2) treadmill at 0% slope, 3 km/h, (3) treadmill at 0% slope, 5 km/h, (4) treadmill at 0% slope, 7 km/h, (5) treadmill at 5% slope, 5 km/h, and (6) treadmill at 5% slope, 7 km/h. Only the harness with the accelerometer in a pouch along the dorsal midline yielded statistically significant increases (P<0.05) in vector magnitude as walking speed of the dogs increased (5-7 km/h) while on the treadmill. Statistically significant increases in vector magnitude were detected in the dogs as the walking speed increased from 5 to 7 km/h, however, changes in vector magnitude were not detected when activity intensity was increased as a result of walking up a 5% grade. Accelerometers are a valid and objective tool able to discriminate between and monitor different levels of activity in dogs in terms of speed of movement but not in energy expenditure that occurs with movement up hill.