Bojan Toholj

Metabolic acclimation to heat stress in farm housed Holstein cows with different body condition scores

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of body condition score to metabolic acclimation in heat stressed Holstein cows. Body condition of cows had no effect on any of the tested parameters during the thermal neutral period, except for the percentage of protein in milk. Heat stress has been demonstrated to have an impact on all the selected parameters, and has been found to be the cause of decreased milk production and quality, increased rectal temperature and respiration rate, decreased glucose, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and cholesterol concentration, increased urea and bilirubin concentration, and loss of subcutaneous fat. Obese cows (BCS>4) had less ability of acclimation to heat stress as compared to normal and thin cows (significantly lower production and milk quality, and significantly higher rectal temperature and respiration level in relation to the other groups of cows). Obese cows showed a significantly higher concentration of NEFA and significantly lower glucose during exposure to heat stress. The steady increase in NEFA concentrations and decrease of backfat thickness suggested that fat was used for energy purposes, which significantly increased the heat balance and led to poor acclimation to heat stress in obese cows. Cows with high body condition were at higher risk of developing liver failure and lipidosis (reduced cholesterol and elevated bilirubin concentration) during heat stress, which could be linked with increased concentrations of fatty acids in the blood. This was found with an increased concentration of urea during exposure to heat stress, with significantly higher concentration in obese cows. Using the fat for energy purposes depends on the sensitivity to insulin, which increases during heat stress. Obese cows are naturally less sensitive to insulin and more prone to lipolysis. However, these signs should be the focus of future research.

Study on the effectiveness of topical application of antiseptics in the therapy of digital dermatitis in diary cattle

Digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle is an infectious skin disease of the plantar side of the interdigital space. The causative agents are bacteria from the genus Troponema. Pathomorphologically DD is defined as a combination of ulcerative and proliferative changes which reach down to the dermal papillae and stick out from the ulcerous surface. In order for DD to develop, beside the infective agent, predisposing factors such as wet and unclean floors are required. Treatment of this disorder is possible with the application of antibiotics and/or antiseptic solutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of topical application of antiseptics in the therapy of DD lesions in affected diary cattle. The applied antiseptic solutions were: copper sulfate (8%), zinc sulfate (8%), formalin (8%), and peracetic acid (3%). The treatment was carried out daily during the first seven days, thereon every second day for a total of 30 days. Chlortetracycline was used as the positive control and saline solution was applied as the negative control. By estimation of the presence, size and painfulness of the DD lesions we have established that zinc sulfate had the best curative effect when compared to other antiseptics.

Evaluation of ultrasonography for measuring solar soft tissue thickness as a predictor of sole ulcer formation in Holstein–Friesian dairy cows

The aim of this research was to investigate the correlation between the thickness of solar soft tissue (SST; i.e. the corium and subcutaneous tissue) in early lactation and sole ulcer formation in late lactation. Fifty Holstein-Friesian cows were examined three times: (1) 30 days after calving (locomotion scoring, trimming, claw examination, measurement of SST); (2) 70 days after calving (locomotion scoring); and (3) 180 days after calving (locomotion scoring, trimming, claw examination). SST thickness was measured using an 8 MHz linear probe, at two points (SST1 below the apex of the pedal bone, and SST2 below the flexor tubercle). Mean values for SST1 and SST2 were 3.26 ± 0.43 mm and 4.35 ± 0.46 mm, respectively; the two measures were positively correlated (r=0.95, P<0.001). At 180 days after calving, a sole ulcer was diagnosed in 12/50 cows (24%). Cows with a thinner SST had a higher risk of developing sole ulcers than those with a thicker SST. The optimal cut-off values of SST1 and SST2 in predicting cows with sole ulcers (as calculated by ROC analysis) was ⩽ 3 mm for SST1 and ⩽ 3.9 mm for SST2. The relative risk of a sole ulcer developing, based on those cut-off values was 4.25 (95 CI, 1.77-24.88) for SST1 ⩽ 3 mm and 3.63 (95 CI, 1.18-10.8) for SST2 ⩽ 3.9 mm.

Contemporary aspects of the control of lameness on cattle farms

Lameness in cattle is the third most important health disorder and in order of significance it is immediately after reproductive disorders and diseases of the mammary gland. Lameness in cows leads to a decrease in milk production, weakening of reproductive performance and early excretion. The potential for high milk yield may be lost if lameness occurs in the cows. Green (2002) observed the loss of 360 kg of milk (range 160-550 kg) in cows in lactation with diagnosed lameness, and pointed to the importance of its early detection as well as of elimination of the causes. According to data provided by The National Centre for Animal Helth of the USA from 2002., in 16% of the cows sent to slaughter, the reason for exclusion from the production was lameness. Hernandez (2005) noticed that service period was averagely longer for 36 days in the cows with lameness. Although it takes a significant place, attention is insufficiently paid to lameness in cattle in the health care system in Serbia. However, there are several control measures, which, when applied together, offer a systemic solution for the problem of lameness. Those are: nutrition control, diagnostics of lameness, hoof disinfection and functional correction of the hoof.

Bull castration by method of total scrotal ablation

In this work, a 2 years and 10 months old bull, with 14 days history of wound on the right side of scrotum was presented. A painful swelling coated by grayish pseudo membranes of necrotic epithelium and fibrin was observed in right lateroventral portion of the scrotum. The presented data enabled us to make decision of performing the total scrotal ablation. The intention was to prevent the influence of probable resorbed necrotic tissue on the vital status of the patient.

Casereport - Agalactia of mare, agammaglobulinemia and arthritis in foal

Lactation is physiological state of the organism and the final process of the female reproductive cycle. Milk in the first days after birth (colostrum), in addition to the necessary nutrients contains antibodies, with whose ingesting only a newborn individual receives passive immunity that protects it from various infections over time. Mammary gland dysfunction and a lack of breast milking is called agalactia. Due to the occurrence of agalactia in mother, newborn animal is denied of intake of colostrum in its body. Thus prevents ingestion of nutrients and passive immunity, which results in the occurrence of various diseases especially infectious etiology. This paper describes the treatment of agammaglobulinemia in foal after ascertaining the occurrence of primary agalactia in mare. There is described the possibility of substitution, ie. benefits of breast milk substitutes, and the procedure of diagnosis and treatment of carpal arthritis in foal.

Research of immune response in unvaccinated piglets against porcine circovirus type 2.

Infection of pigs caused by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is present throughout the world. The aim of this study was to determine, based on the follow-up of the class IgG titers in piglets and fattening pigs, the duration of colostral immunity against infections in pigs caused by PCV2. The study included 28 piglets, whose titer was determined by using indirect ELISA test in intervals up to 110 days of age. The observed average values of IgG in piglets aged 21 days (8.47 log2) and 35 days (6.69 log2) in our surveys indicate very high titers of maternal antibodies, and that the piglets at this age are, to some extent, protected from infection caused by PCV2. Absence of the specific anti PCV2 antibodies was determined in 14.29% (21 days old) and 15.38% (35 days old) piglets at this age. The average titer of antibodies, specific for PCV2, in blood serum of piglets on the 50th day decreased to 3.74 log2, what indicates that in the majority of piglets (61.54%) catabolism of colostral antibodies occurred. On the 80th day of the piglets life there were no seropositive specimens, which unambiguously indicates that in this age, there was a complete catabolism of colostral antibodies and the disappearance of passive immunity. In all the 110 days’ old fattening pigs, an average antibody titer recorded a sharp rise (12.78 log2). Possible reasons for this sudden increase in PCV2 antibody titers in the blood serum of fattening pigs is is a widespread presence of this infection in our region, as well as the fact that there exists a part of pigs population which is not immune to PCV2 infection. The results of this research are important for choosing the optimal moment for vaccination, considering that high titers of colostral antibodies of class G on the 21st and 35th day of piglets’ life have been proven. This data points out to a possible interference with vaccine immunogens in the case of vaccination in this particular age.

Undesired reaction following intramuscular application of medicine: case history.

The paper describes the therapy of a neck wound in a horse that occurred as a consequence of an inflammatory reaction to an administered medicine. During the clinical examination, we established that it was a neck wound that had occurred as a consequence of an inflammatory reaction on the spot where the medicine had been administered. There was an expressed fist-size tissue defect, with necrosis covering the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, the cutaneous muscle, and the neck musculature. The ventral part of the wound contained a pocket with exudate and hypergranulation. Therapy was based on asceptic treatment of the area around the wound, trimming the edges of the wound, washing the wound, removing hypergranulation, draining, protecting the area from drying, applying treatment with antibiotics. The wound healed per secundam intentionem.

Case report: Chronic arthritis of fetlock joint in the horse

Diseases of extremities in horses are the most significant part of the pathology in this species. This paper shows neurectomy as the ultimo ratio in the treatment of chronic arthritis of the fetlock joint in the horse. This disease is characterized by the appearance of exostoses in the area of the fetlock joint which reduces the mobility of the joint and causes pain during movement. The disease was diagnosed in a clinical examination, with a probe of the flexion of the suspected joint, and using diagnostic anesthesia. After data were collected in this way, we opted for neurectomy of the n.palmaris medialis. The operation was performed in general anesthesia. Local anesthesia was also applied as proximal palmar anesthesia. The postoperative course was smooth. Following the withdrawal of the edema and the healing of the wound, the lameness ceased and the usability value of the stallion was restored.