Dairy cows change locomotion score and sensitivity to pain with trimming and infectious or non-infectious lesions.

Lameness can negatively affect production, but there is still controversy about the perception of pain in dairy cows. This study aimed to verify the effects of hoof affections in dairy cows on locomotion score, physiological attributes, pressure nociceptive threshold, and thermographic variables, as well as assess improvement on these variables after corrective trimming and treatment. Thirty-four lame lactating cows were gait-scored, and all cows with locomotion score ≥4 were retained for this study 1 day before trimming. Lame cows were diagnosed, pressure nociceptive threshold at sound, and affected hooves were measured, thermographic images were recorded, and physiological attributes were evaluated. Hooves with lesions were trimmed and treated and cows were re-evaluated 1 week after such procedures. The experimental design was a completely randomized design. Each cow was considered an experimental unit and traits were analyzed using paired t test, linear correlation, and linear regression. Digital and interdigital dermatitis were classified as infectious diseases while laminitis sequels, sole ulcers, and white line were classified as non-infectious diseases. After 1 week, the locomotion score was reduced on average in 1.5 points. Trimming increased the pressure nociceptive threshold for cows with non-infectious affections while tended to increase the pressure nociceptive threshold for cows with infectious affections. Physiological attributes and thermographic values did not change with trimming. Trimming and treatment have benefic effects on animal welfare as gait is improved and sensitivity to pain is reduced.

Clinical and histopathological features of myocarditis in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis / Aspectos clínicos e histopatológicos da miocardite em cães com leishmaniose visceral

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a cosmopolitan parasitic zoonosis that can promote myocarditis and heart rate changes in canine and human hosts. Thus, histopathological aspects of the myocardium and clinical, hematological, biochemical, radiological and electrocardiographic data were evaluated in a group of 36 dogs naturally infected with VL (VLG) and compared to data from 15 non-infected dogs (CG=Control Group). A prevalence of asymptomatic dogs was present in the CG (100%) and polysymptomatic dogs in the VLG (66%). In addition, two dogs in the VLG demonstrated systolic murmurs in the mitral valve region: one with a II/VI intensity and the other with a III/VI intensity. The mean values of RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower in dogs in VLG and were associated with higher values of total protein, total leukocytes, neutrophils, creatine kinase overall (CK) and the CK-MB fraction (CK-MB). The absence of radiographic changes was accompanied by a predominance of respiratory sinus arrhythmia associated with episodes of migratory pacemaker and sinus arrest in dogs in VLG (75%), sinus rhythm in dogs in CG (60%) and decreased P wave amplitude in VLG electrocardiography. Mononuclear cell infiltration was detected in the myocardium of 77,8% of dogs in GVL and classified primarily as mild multifocal lymphohistioplasmacytic. Amastigotes were detected in only one dog, which did not allow the association between myocarditis and parasitism, although the myocardial lesions that were found constitute irrefutable evidence of myocarditis in the VLG dogs, accompanied by lenient electrocardiographic changes compared to CG.

A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma zoonose parasitária cosmopolita capaz de promover miocardite e alterações no ritmo cardíaco em cães e seres humanos. Dessa forma, os aspectos clínicos, hematimétricos, bioquímicos, radiográficos, eletrocardiográficos e histopatológicos do miocárdio foram avaliados em 36 cães naturalmente infectados com LV (GLV) e comparados a 15 cães não infectados (GC). Houve predomínio de cães assintomáticos no GC (100%) e polissintomáticos no GLV (66%). Dois cães do GLV apresentaram sopro sistólico de intensidade II/VI e III/VI, em região de foco mitral. Os valores médios de hemácia, hemoglobina e hematócrito foram inferiores nos cães do GLV, associados a maiores valores de proteína total, leucócitos totais, neutrófilos, creatinina quinase total (CK) e fração MB (CK-MB). Ausência de alterações radiográficas foi acompanhada de predomínio de arritmia sinusal respiratória associada a episódios de marcapasso migratório e sinus arrest nos cães do GLV (75%), ritmo sinusal nos cães do GC (60%) e diminuição da amplitude da onda P no GLV à eletrocardiografia. Infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear foi detectado no miocárdio de 77,8% dos cães do GLV, classificados, em sua maioria, como linfoistioplasmocitário multifocal leve. A forma amastigota foi detectada em apenas um cão, não permitindo a associação entre a miocardite e a parasitose, ainda que as lesões miocárdicas encontradas constituam prova irrefutável da miocardite nos cães do GLV, acompanhadas por alterações eletrocardiográficas brandas em comparação ao GC.

Impact of subclinical and clinical mastitis on sensitivity to pain of dairy cows.

A total of 90 cows from three commercial farms were used to evaluate the relationship between subclinical mastitis and clinical mastitis and thermal nociceptive threshold. Milk strips from all udder quarters were tested for clinical mastitis with visual inspection of milk and udder alterations and for subclinical mastitis using California Mastitis Test. Milk yield was recorded, milk was sampled and further analyzed for somatic cells count (SCC). Cows were considered healthy when SCC200 000 cells/ml and no visual alterations in milk and/or udder, with moderate subclinical mastitis when SCC>500 000 cells/ml and no visual alterations in milk and/or udder and with clinical mastitis when visual alterations in milk and/or udder were detected. Nociceptive threshold was evaluated with the thermal threshold meter apparatus applied to the rear legs. Thermal threshold (TT) decreased when we compared healthy cows with cows presenting clinical mastitis and tended to decrease when we compare healthy cows with those with moderate subclinical mastitis. TT was lower at the ipsilateral rear leg compared with the contralateral leg to the infected mammary gland. TT linearly decreases as log10SCC increased and it showed sharp decrease as log10SCC exceed the value of 6.4. Increase in one unit of log10SCC increased the odds of low thermal threshold (lower than 55.8°C). Subclinical mastitis might be a welfare issue as it tended to decrease nociceptive thermal threshold.

Milk yield and composition from Angus and Angus-cross beef cows raised in southern Brazil.

This study assessed milk yield and composition of Angus and Angus-cross beef cows raised in southern Brazil. A total of 128 records were collected in 2 consecutive calving seasons from cows between 3 and 5 yr of age of 4 breed compositions: Angus (ANAN), Caracu × Angus (CRAN), Hereford × Angus (HHAN), and Nelore × Angus (NEAN). These cows were mated to Brangus (BN) or Braford (BO) bulls and managed under extensive grazing conditions in southern Brazil. Milk production of these cows was assessed by 2 procedures: indirectly by the calf weigh-suckle-weigh procedure (WD) and directly by machine milking (MM). Lactation curves were estimated using nonlinear regression and the following related traits were derived: peak yield (PY), peak week (PW), total yield at 210 d (TY210), and lactation persistence (PERS). Milk composition and calf weaning weight adjusted to 210 d (WW210) were also determined. The MM technique was considered more accurate because of lower standard errors of estimated means, greater statistical power, and greater correlation between TY210 and WW210 (0.50) compared to WD (0.36). Considering the more precise evaluation by MM, the CRAN and NEAN cows had greater TY210 (1070 and 1116 kg, respectively) and PY (8.1 and 7.8 kg, respectively) compared to ANAN and HHAN cows, which had 858 and 842 kg for TY210 and 6.6 and 6.3 kg for PY, respectively. The NEAN cows had the latest PW at 10.8 wk. Late-calving cows had 21% lower TY210 compared to cows that calved earlier. Milk composition was influenced by cow genotype, with CRAN and NEAN cows producing milk with greater fat (3.8 and 3.9%, respectively) and protein (3.2 and 3.1%, respectively) content compared to ANAN and HHAN cows. Regardless of the genotype, fat, protein, and total solids increased in concentration from beginning to end of lactation, while lactose content decreased. Crossbreeding of Angus with adapted breeds of taurine or indicine origin can be effective in increasing milk yield and nutrient content and, consequently, producing heavier calves at weaning under extensive grazing in southern Brazil and other similar subtropical climate regions.

Strategies used by dairy family farmers in the south of Brazil to comply with organic regulations.

The aims of this study were to investigate the environmental, feeding, and health management of organic (ORG) family dairy farms in the south of Brazil in comparison with conventional (CONV) farms, and to assess their degree of compliance with Brazilian organic legislation and the strategies they adopt to accomplish this (n=17 per group). During 2 visits to each farm in March and September, 2010, observations were made on the environment, feed, and health management, followed by bulk milk testing, clinical evaluation, and breed assessment of each individual cow, and an evaluation of diseases and treatments reported within the period. Additional data were collected directly from the farmers through direct interviews. The number of lactating cows was, on average, 11 (range 5 to 19) in the ORG and 16 (range 7 to 42) in the CONV herds. The ORG herds presented a lower percentage of the Holstein breed; whereas CONV herds were predominantly Holstein, in the ORG herds, only 2 herds were 100% Holstein and the remaining herds were crosses of Holstein, Jersey, and Gir (Bos indicus) cattle. Milk production per cow was lower (10.2 vs. 15.1 ± 1.22 L/cow, respectively) in ORG than in the CONV farms. The ORG farms offered less concentrate feed than CONV farms and had better pasture management. Organic farmers reported using phytotherapic and homeopathic products, and pasture management as a strategy to keep infection levels of endo- and ectoparasites low, whereas CONV farmers regularly used anthelmintics and acaricides. Milk production was lower in ORG than in CONV farms, but cow health and condition scores were broadly similar, indicating that the with these strategies ORG farms were able to secure levels of animal welfare comparable with CONV farms while complying with organic regulation, although at the cost of lower cow productivity.

PP040. Expression of RANTES (CCL5) in maternal plasma, fetal plasma and placenta in pre-eclampsia and normotensive controls.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown pre-eclampsia (PE) as an exacerbation of gestational inflammatory process. RANTES (Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted)/CCL5 is a chemokine, which is involved in chronic inflammation by the recruitment of inflammatory cells. It is secreted by many cell types such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets and activated T-cells. Thus we hypothesized that RANTES expression is altered in PE and may be different in gestational tissues (maternal plasma, fetal plasma and placenta). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to analyze the expression of RANTES (CCL5) in three different tissues: maternal plasma, fetal plasma and placenta, in PE and normotensive controls (NC). METHODS: PE was diagnosed by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Report on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy guidelines. The patients were assisted in the São Lucas Hospital from PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Following ethical approval and informed written consent, maternal and umbilical plasma and placental biopsies were taken from 33 PE and 35 NC. Samples were centrifuged immediately after blood collection and plasma was stored at -80°C until assay. Placental Biopsies were taken midway between the cord and periphery, from the central region of cotyledons and were stored as well. RANTES expression was made by the ELISA test, in duplicates. They were also analyzed in each group: maternal age, maternal parity, gestational age on delivery, glucose, body mass index, proteinúria creatinuria ratio, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), delivery method, birth weight, placental weight and Apgar index in 1st and 5th minute. RESULTS: Maternal age at the time of blood collection was not significantly different between the two groups. The women with preeclampsia delivered earlier and had smaller babies compared with the controls. Significant associations between groups (p<0.001) were seen in SBP, DBP, birth weight and delivery method. RANTES was increased in maternal plasma and placenta in patients with PE and decreased in fetus plasma in the same group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we have shown that RANTES expression in maternal plasma and placenta tissues, in women with established pre-eclampsia, is higher than in gestation-matched women with a healthy pregnancy. It confirms the hypotheses that physiology of PE is associated with an increase of normal gestational inflammatory process. However in fetus tissue, the inflammatory chemokine is decreased in PE women. FUNDING: CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília - DF 70040-020, Brazil.

Simulação da rentabilidade e viabilidade econômica de um modelo de produção de leite em free-stall / Simulation of economic feasibility and profitability of a free stall model milk production

Avaliaram-se a rentabilidade e a viabilidade econômica da implantação de um sistema de produção de leite em free-stall. Foi realizada uma pesquisa técnico-mercadológica para definir os investimentos necessários e determinar os custos de cada fator de produção. Considerou-se um modelo de produção composto por 100 vacas em lactação, com produção média total de 2595 litros de leite por dia. O custo operacional total mensal foi de R$27.787,39, tendo a nutrição como a variável de maior relevância, representando 62,7 por cento do custo. Para a receita bruta mensal, obteve-se o valor de R$43.817,50 e a consequente receita líquida mensal de R$16.030,11. Observou-se rentabilidade de 12,2 por cento ao ano, com valor presente líquido negativo de R$131.627,39. Concluiu-se que o modelo proposto mostrou-se economicamente inviável levando-se em consideração os preços estimados.

The economical profitability and viability of the implantation of a milk production system in free stall were evaluated. A technical-market analysis was done to define the necessary investment as well as to determine the costs of each production factor. A production model with 100 lactating cows averaging 2,595 liters of daily production was considered. The total monthly operational cost was R$27,781.39 showing that nutrition is the variable with higher relevance (62.7 percent of the cost). For the monthly gross income a value of R$43,817.50 was obtained and, consequently, the monthly net income (NI)was R$16,030.11. A 12.2 percent profitability per year from NI rendering a deficit net value of R$131,627.39. Considering the estimated prices it is concluded that the proposed model was economically unfeasible.