Fertility effects of crossing thoroughbreds with don mares

Pregnancy rates, foal-heat conception rates, early and late embryo loss, polyovulations and delivery loss were compared on a Russian breeding farm between Don mares with a low percentage of Thoroughbred (TB) blood and those with more than 25% TB blood, called Budenny mares. The overall pregnancy rate in the two groups was not significantly different; 85.5% and 85.6%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the foal heat conception rate, with the Don mares at 54.9% and the Budenny mares at 50.3%. Embryo loss before Day 100 was only 4.9% for the Don mares, but was 9.1% for the Budenny mares. Embryo loss after Day 100 was similar in the two groups; 10.2% for the Don mares and 9.0% for the Budenny mares. The loss of foals in the process of delivery was 3.3% for the Don mares and 5.0% for the Budenny mares. Estrous cycles with polyovulations was 8.7% for the Don mares and 13.1% for the Budenny mares.     

EVALUATION OF FATTY INFILTRATION OF THE LIVER IN DAIRY CATTLE THROUGH DIGITAL ANALYSIS OF HEPATIC ULTRASONOGRAMS

Ultrasonography of the liver of 49 Holstein-Friesian cows was performed, liver specimens were taken, examined microscopically and the fatty occupying rate (FOR) was calculated. Echoes from the hepatic B-mode ultrasonograms were quantified as histogram mean (Emean) and histogram mode (Emode) of echo amplitudes within various areas at a depth of 1–9 cm from the hepatic surface. Of the 49 animals, 26 had a normal liver and 23 had fatty infiltration of the liver, diagnosed through histopathological examination. Fatty occupying rate ranged from 1.7 to 64.5%, with 11 animals having 1–15% FOR (mild fatty infiltration), 6 having 15.1–30% FOR (moderate fatty infiltration) and 6 having > 30% FOR (severe fatty infiltration). At 1 cm, severe fatty infiltration had higher Emean and Emode than normal liver (p < 0.05). At 7 cm and 9 cm, moderate and severe fatty infiltration had lower Emeans and Emodes than normal liver (p < 0.001). The results suggest that digital analysis of hepatic ultrasonogram can be useful in the evaluation of the degree of fatty infiltration of the liver in dairy cattle.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF FATTY INFILTRATION OF THE LIVER IN DAIRY CATTLE USING LIVER-KIDNEY CONTRAST

Ultrasonography of both the liver and kidney in 150 dairy cows was attempted using a grey-scale sonograph with a 3.5 MHz transducer and a linear array electronic scanner. Liver and kidney specimens were examined microscopically and fatty occupying rate was calculated. Digital analysis of hepatic and renal ultrasonograms was performed. The echoes from different areas of the liver and kidney at 1 and 3 cm from the peritoneum were quantified as histogram mean (Emean) and histogram mode (Emode) values of echo amplitude.
Liver-kidney contrast was performed only in 38 out of 150 animals. In the other 112 animals, no images of the liver and kidney at the same distance from the peritoneum could be obtained. Out of 38 animals, 23 had a normal liver and 15 had fatty infiltration of the liver (7, 5 and 3 animals had mild, moderate and severe fatty infiltration, respectively). Fatty infiltration of the kidney was also seen in animals whose liver had >10% fatty occupying rate. At 1 cm from the peritoneum, the hepatic Emeans and Emodes were significantly different from the renal Emeans and Emodes in animals with severe fatty infiltration of the liver (p < 0.05). The results show that for diagnosis of fatty infiltration of the liver, Ultrasonography using liver-kidney contrast has only limited use in dairy cattle.     

Evaluation of Low Level Laser Therapy on Primary Healing of Experimentally Induced Full Thickness Teat Wounds in Dairy Cattle

Objective —The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on sutured wounds of the teat in dairy cattle.
Study Design —By using the Latin square design, the effect of LLLT was evaluated by radiography, measurement of microcirculation flow, histopathology, tensiometry, and hydroxyproline analysis.
Animals or Sample Population —Sixteen teats of four dairy cattle.
Methods —Full thickness wounds were made on the cranial surface of the teats. Teats were distributed into four groups; group A and B wounds were closed with a Gambee pattern, group C and D wounds were closed with three-layers of continuous suture pattern. Group B and D wounds were treated with 3.64 J/cm² of LLLT using a helium-neon system continuous wave (632.8 nm) output of 8.5 mW.
Results —The teat wall in non-LLLT groups was significantly thicker than in LLLT groups on day 7, 14 and 21. The mean blood flow differences between control and sutured sites in LLLT groups were significantly lower than those in non-LLLT groups. The morphology of the epidermis in LLLT groups more closely resembled the normal epidermis than that of non-LLLT groups. Collagen fibers in LLLT groups were denser, thicker, better arranged and more continuous with existing collagen fibers than those in non-LLLT groups. The mean tensile strength was significantly greater in LLLT groups than in non-LLLT groups.
Conclusion —The LLLT affects various aspects of the healing process, including minimizing inflammation, formation of edema, improvement of skin regeneration and enhancement of collagen synthesis.
Clinical Relevance —The LLLT could accelerate healing of sutured wounds of the teat in dairy cattle.