Assessment of feeding, ruminating and locomotion behaviors in dairy cows around calving – a retrospective clinical study to early detect spontaneous disease appearance

Cardiovascular changes, laboratory findings and pain scores in calves undergoing ultrasonography-guided bilateral rectus sheath block before herniorrhaphy: a prospective randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to assess the clinical utility of a multiparametric approach to measure the impact of bilateral ultrasound-guided rectus sheath blocks (RSB) on heart rate, serum cortisol concentrations, and pain in calves undergoing herniorraphy. Fourteen calves were randomly assigned to receive either the RSB (RSB group, n = 7, injected with 0.3 mL/kg of bupivacaine 0.25% and 0.15 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine per side) or a sham injection (CG group, n = 7, injected with an equivalent volume of sterile saline solution). Monitoring included (i) continuous Holter recording from 120 min pre-surgery to 120 min post-surgery; (ii) serum cortisol concentration (SC) at -150 min pre-surgery (baseline), induction time, skin incision, end of surgical procedure (EP-t), and then 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 120 min, 360 min after recovery; (iii) UNESP-Botucatu pain evaluation at -150 min pre-surgery and 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 120 min, 240 min, 360 min after recovery.

RESULTS

A significant difference in the heart rate was observed within the RSB group, in the time frame between 120 min to induction compared to the time frame between induction to EP-t period. The SC concentration was significantly higher in the CG at the skin incision. Calves in the RSB group recorded significantly lower pain scores at 45 min, 60 min, 120 and 240 min after recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated that monitoring heart rate and serum cortisol concentrations effectively quantified the effects of RSB during surgery. At the same time, the UNESP-Botucatu pain scale identified effects post-surgery when the calves regained consciousness. Overall, ultrasound-guided RSB appeared to enhance the well-being of calves undergoing herniorrhaphy.

Metabolic Changes Associated with Different Levels of Energy Deficits in Mediterranean Buffaloes during the Early Lactation Stage: Type and Role of the Main Lipid Fractions Involved

Cell function and energy redistribution are influenced by lipid classes (phospholipids (PLs), free fatty acids (FFAs), triglycerides (TGs), and cholesterol esters (CEs)). The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic alterations that are related to changes in lipid classes according to different levels of energy deficits in early lactating Mediterranean buffaloes (MBs). Sixty-three MBs were enrolled at the beginning of lactation using an observational study with a cross-sectional experimental design. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were used to group the animals into a healthy group (Group H; n = 38; BHB < 0.70 mmol/L) and hyperketonemia risk group (Group K; n = 25; BHB ≥ 0.70 mmol/L). Statistical analysis was performed using a linear model that included the effect of the group and body condition score to assess differences in fatty acid (FA) concentrations. A total of 40 plasma FAs were assessed in each lipid class. Among the FAs, eight PLs, seven FFAs, four TGs, and four CEs increased according to BHB levels, while three FFAs, three TGs, and one CE decreased. The changes among lipid class profiles suggested the influence of inflammatory response, liver metabolism, and the state of body lipid reserves. In addition, the possible similarities of buffaloes at risk of hyperketonemia with ketotic cows suggest the necessity of further investigations in these ruminants.

Effects of extrinsic factors on some rumination patterns: A review

The rumen and its activity, rumination, are the characterizing traits of the suborder Ruminantia, and it is accompanied by related feeding habits and consequent animal behavior. Several extrinsic (not related to the animal itself) factors affect rumination behavior; most are reflected in rumination timing (considering overall daily duration as well as circadian differences in rumination patterns): age, environmental factors, and diet. For these reasons, great efforts have been sustained at the research level for monitoring rumination patterns. Currently, some research outcomes are applied at the farm level; others are still at the experimental level. All of these efforts are finalized mainly for the use of rumination pattern recording as an effective prediction tool for the early detection of health and welfare problems, both in a single head and at the herd level. Moreover, knowledge of the effects of extrinsic factors on rumination physiology represents a great challenge for improving the efficiency of ruminant livestock management, from the diet to the housing system, from parasites to heat stress. The present review deals mainly with the worldwide raised ruminant species.