Blood types in cattle of Iberian ancestry and in Holsteins at various altitudes.

Gene frequencies of RBC antigens were determined in Holsteins and Colombian (criollas) cattle living at 3,000 m, and in cattle descended from fighting bulls (Vacas de lidia) living at 2,500 m. These frequencies were compared with those of Holsteins, cattle native to Florida (scrub cattle), longhorns, and native cattle from Brazil (caracu cattle) living at sea level. The criollas, Vacas de lidia, scrub cows, longhorns, and caracu are descendants of original Iberian stock introduced to the Americas. We found that despite common ancestry (scrub cattle, long-horns, criollas, and caracu), genetic differences may have been derived through years of demographic isolation. The most remarkable blood-group differences were found in the high prevalence of the B system phenogroup (heritable group of antigenic factors) BQA'G'34 in the Vacas de lidia, and of the S system phenogroup U1H' in these cattle and in caracu. Furthermore, the gene frequencies differed in the Holsteins maintained at moderately high altitude (descended from Holsteins kept at sea level), and may have been reflective of the need to adapt to moderately high altitude and chronic hypoxemic conditions. Blood group polymorphism was found in all groups of cattle, although it was reduced in the Vacas de lidia, possibly because their breeding has been carefully controlled and they appear to be highly inbred.     

Urethrotomy of the glans penis in three male dogs with urolithiasis

Three intact male dogs with stranguria and haematuria caused by uroliths in the penile urethra underwent urethrotomy using a novel surgical approach directly over the caudal part of the os penis because conservative procedures to resolve the obstructions had failed. Haemorrhage was minimal, and the incisions healed rapidly by second intention. Complications did not occur during the 6‐month follow‐up period. Urethrotomy directly over the os penis is straightforward, associated with few complications and holds promise for the removal of urinary calculi in the penile urethra.     

Effects of defoliation on fruit growth,carbohydrate reserves and subsequent flowering of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines

A partial defoliation study was carried out on ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines with the aim of evaluating effects on fruit yield, changes in concentration of carbohydrates, and return bloom. At full bloom, ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines trained to the pergola system were submitted to 0% (control), 50% and 75% defoliation in the 2.0 m wide central horizontal area of the canopy. This area represents the vine ‘replacement cane zone’ (RCZ), whereas the remaining external area represents the ‘fruiting zone’ (FZ). Removing 50% of the leaves resulted in a small (−9 g in the RCZ and −3.3 g in the FZ), but significant, reduction in fruit weight compared to the control vines. More severe defoliation (75%) reduced fruit weight by 13 g in the RCZ and 7 g in the FZ. The defoliation treatment reduced the concentrations of starch and total soluble carbohydrates (glucose + fructose + sucrose) in the shoots and starch in trunk bark compared to those in control vines. The treatments caused a large reduction in return bloom, expressed as number of flowers per winter bud, by about 25% and 53% in vines with 50% and 75% defoliation, respectively.     

Hair cortisol as a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation in Friesian dairy cows clinically or physiologically compromised

This study was designed to assess hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation in lactating cows clinically or physiologically compromised. Cortisol was measured in the hair of 475 multiparous cows of Italian Friesian breed. The cows were classified into Groups A (n=218) and B (n=257). Group A included cows clinically compromised that had recently suffered a disease (e.g. metritis, laminitis, mastitis) or physiologically compromised that calved 1 month prior to hair sampling. Group B were clinically normal lactating cows at least 60 days after calving with somatic cell counts of less than 200,000 cells/ml in milk. Animals in Group A showed higher hair cortisol levels than those in Group B (P<0.01). Significant positive correlation (rpb=+0.352, P<0.001) was detected between hair cortisol and cows clinically or physiologically compromised. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.701 (SE 0.024) and a cut-off value of 4.17 pg/mg was found to discriminate between groups A and B with a sensitivity of 62.4% and specificity of 69.3%. The hair cortisol test emerged as useful to determine HPA activation and to enhance current understanding on the involvement of this axis in clinically or physiologically compromised cows.