Weight gain comparison between heifers fed colostrum or whole milk until weaning

Background: The milk-feeding phase, wherein whole milk is the natural food, is critical to calf development, health, andvitality. However, feeding milk to calves is costly in the rearing system because the milk supplied to calves is not sold. Infarms in which the average production is high, excess colostrum and transitional milk are produced that are used to feedcalves until weaning. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of heifers exclusively fed colostrum(including transitional milk) or raw whole milk.Materials, Methods & Results: Immediately after their birth, 83 ear-tagged healthy Holstein Friesian heifers adequatelyreceiving the initial colostrum were separated into two experimental groups. Group 1 (n = 34) was fed only fresh whole milkand group 2 (n = 49) was fed only colostrum diluted in water at a 2:1 ratio. Colostrum was removed from cows until the fifthday after birth and was stored in sanitized disposable plastic bottles, stored in a freezer at -20°C and before administration,the colostrum was thawed. Liquid diets were administered using a bottle twice a day during the first month, namely 2 L inthe morning and 2 L in the afternoon. During the second month, the heifers were fed 4 L once a day in the morning. Theheifers had access to an enclosure with fodder, in addition to concentrate specifically for heifers, which was placed in anindividual trough daily. The leftovers were weighed at the end of the afternoon. The heifers were abruptly weaned whenthey reached a daily intake of 1 kg of concentrate. The heifers were individually weighed at birth and at 30, 60, 90, 120,150, and 180 days. The average weights were 40.4, 54.1, 74.5, 95.1, 108.2, and 126.1 kg in group 1 and 45.4, 58.4, 78.2,95.9, 110.8, and 125.1 kg in group 2. The use of diluted colostrum was satisfactory...(AU)

Reduction glossoplasty in a calf with bifid tongue

Background: Fetal malformations are characterized by anatomical changes that compromise an organ or system. Tongueformation in bovines occurs with the fusion of three structures at the end of the fourth week of gestation, and any failureduring this stage of embryonic development may lead to tongue malformation. Bifid tongue, also called glossoschisis, is arare congenital abnormality in any species and is characterized by incomplete fusion of the lateral tongue buds, resultingin a deep groove in the midline of the tongue. The objective of this study was to describe a case of bifid tongue and theprocedure of reduction glossoplasty in a calf of the Girolando breed in Tocantins State.Case: A male mixed-breed (Holstein-Friesian × Gir) calf, born from natural mating in the municipality of Araguaína,Tocantins, was clinically assessed in the Sector of Ruminant Clinical Medicine of the Federal University of Tocantinsat 2 months of age. The owner reported that the animal exhibited difficulty in suckling after birth and that on inspectionof the oral cavity, he observed changes in the tongue and mandible. Clinical examination of the oral cavity revealed thepresence of a bifid tongue and abnormal fusion of the mandible in the region of the lower incisive teeth. It was decided toperform a surgical procedure with the aim of improving the animals quality of life because the owner wanted to keep itin the farm. An incision was made, followed by removal of the medial rims of the two tines of the tongue, and synthesiswas performed, joining the ventral rims of the tongue, beginning at the root and ending at the apex.Discussion: The observed lesions are compatible with bifid tongue and mandibular fissure, both previously reported inother species. The literature has no reports of bifid tongue in bovines. The etiology of fetal malformations is still unclear,and the primary causes known in Brazil include...(AU)

Weight gain comparison between heifers fed colostrum or whole milk until weaning

Background: The milk-feeding phase, wherein whole milk is the natural food, is critical to calf development, health, andvitality. However, feeding milk to calves is costly in the rearing system because the milk supplied to calves is not sold. Infarms in which the average production is high, excess colostrum and transitional milk are produced that are used to feedcalves until weaning. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of heifers exclusively fed colostrum(including transitional milk) or raw whole milk.Materials, Methods & Results: Immediately after their birth, 83 ear-tagged healthy Holstein Friesian heifers adequatelyreceiving the initial colostrum were separated into two experimental groups. Group 1 (n = 34) was fed only fresh whole milkand group 2 (n = 49) was fed only colostrum diluted in water at a 2:1 ratio. Colostrum was removed from cows until the fifthday after birth and was stored in sanitized disposable plastic bottles, stored in a freezer at -20°C and before administration,the colostrum was thawed. Liquid diets were administered using a bottle twice a day during the first month, namely 2 L inthe morning and 2 L in the afternoon. During the second month, the heifers were fed 4 L once a day in the morning. Theheifers had access to an enclosure with fodder, in addition to concentrate specifically for heifers, which was placed in anindividual trough daily. The leftovers were weighed at the end of the afternoon. The heifers were abruptly weaned whenthey reached a daily intake of 1 kg of concentrate. The heifers were individually weighed at birth and at 30, 60, 90, 120,150, and 180 days. The average weights were 40.4, 54.1, 74.5, 95.1, 108.2, and 126.1 kg in group 1 and 45.4, 58.4, 78.2,95.9, 110.8, and 125.1 kg in group 2. The use of diluted colostrum was satisfactory...

Reduction glossoplasty in a calf with bifid tongue

Background: Fetal malformations are characterized by anatomical changes that compromise an organ or system. Tongueformation in bovines occurs with the fusion of three structures at the end of the fourth week of gestation, and any failureduring this stage of embryonic development may lead to tongue malformation. Bifid tongue, also called glossoschisis, is arare congenital abnormality in any species and is characterized by incomplete fusion of the lateral tongue buds, resultingin a deep groove in the midline of the tongue. The objective of this study was to describe a case of bifid tongue and theprocedure of reduction glossoplasty in a calf of the Girolando breed in Tocantins State.Case: A male mixed-breed (Holstein-Friesian × Gir) calf, born from natural mating in the municipality of Araguaína,Tocantins, was clinically assessed in the Sector of Ruminant Clinical Medicine of the Federal University of Tocantinsat 2 months of age. The owner reported that the animal exhibited difficulty in suckling after birth and that on inspectionof the oral cavity, he observed changes in the tongue and mandible. Clinical examination of the oral cavity revealed thepresence of a bifid tongue and abnormal fusion of the mandible in the region of the lower incisive teeth. It was decided toperform a surgical procedure with the aim of improving the animal’s quality of life because the owner wanted to keep itin the farm. An incision was made, followed by removal of the medial rims of the two tines of the tongue, and synthesiswas performed, joining the ventral rims of the tongue, beginning at the root and ending at the apex.Discussion: The observed lesions are compatible with bifid tongue and mandibular fissure, both previously reported inother species. The literature has no reports of bifid tongue in bovines. The etiology of fetal malformations is still unclear,and the primary causes known in Brazil include...