[Monitoring the course of birth in -cattle with a transponder recording the ruminal activity]. / Unterschiede im Wiederkauverhalten von Kühen, die bei der Geburt Zughilfe benötigen oder nicht.

INTRODUCTION: In the present study the ante partum ruminating behavior and the later birth course were examined. Between May 2016 and April 2017 all cows, on a North German farm with 430 Holstein Friesian cows, were equipped with a transponder recording the ruminating behavior at least one week before the calculated date of birth. In total, 28 births could be monitored. Regardless of the course of birth, a decrease in ruminal activity was observed in all animals in the days before birth. The most significant decrease was on the last day before the birth. A significant difference occurred only at certain times. The present study confirmed an association between the early decline in ruminal activity and any imminent -dystocia. Further and in-depth studies are needed to create an appropriate algorithm.

INTRODUCTION: Dans la présente étude, le comportement ruminatoire ante partum et l'évolution ultérieure de la mise-bas ont été examinés. Entre mai 2016 et avril 2017, toutes les vaches d'une ferme du nord de l'Allemagne avec 430 têtes de Holstein Friesian ont été équipées d'un transpondeur enregistrant le comportement ruminatoire au moins une semaine avant la date de mise-bas calculée. Au total, 28 naissances ont pu être surveillées. Quel que soit le déroulement de la naissance, une diminution de l'activité ruminatoire a été observée chez tous les animaux dans les jours précédant la naissance. La diminution la plus significative a eu lieu le dernier jour avant la naissance. Une différence significative ne s'est produite qu'à certains moments. La présente étude a confirmé l'existence d'un lien entre le déclin précoce de l'activité ruminatoire et l'apparition d'une éventuelle dystocie. Des études complémentaires et approfondies sont nécessaires pour développer un algorithme approprié.

Comparison of blood glucose concentrations after administration of a glucose solution via the jugular vein and portal vein in cows.

The goals of the present study were to determine whether the infusion of a glucose solution into the portal vein is tolerated in cows and whether the glucose concentration differs after administration of glucose into the jugular vein and portal vein. Fifteen healthy Swiss Braunvieh cows were used. An indwelling catheter was placed in both jugular veins and a balloon-tipped indwelling catheter with a diameter of 2 mm was placed in the portal vein under the guidance of ultrasonography. Three cows received 500 ml of 20% glucose solution over 60 min via the left jugular vein. Three other cows received the same solution over 60 min via the portal vein. Blood samples were collected from the right jugular vein before and for 24 h after the infusion of glucose for the determination of the concentrations of glucose and bilirubin and the activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Infusion via the portal vein did not result in abnormalities in the general condition of the cows or increases in the concentration of bilirubin or the activities of liver enzymes. The blood glucose concentration increased to the same extent after both intraportal and intrajugular infusion. Over a 12-h period, three cows received 10 l of 20% glucose solution via the left jugular vein and three others received the same solution over a 12-h period via the portal vein. Blood samples were collected from the right jugular vein before and for 30 h after the start of infusion. Infusion via the portal vein did not affect the general condition of the cows or the activities of the liver enzymes. There was no significant difference in the blood glucose concentration between the two groups throughout the study.