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Background: Dystocia is rare in horses, but is life-threatening for mares and foals. Therefore, veterinary research depends on up-to-date data to optimise equine dystocia management. In addition, knowledge of the prognosis of equine dystocia is necessary to advise animal owners. This retrospective study of equine dystocia aimed to enrich existing datasets with up-to-date information. For the first time, the focus was on the causes of dystocia that occurred alone or in combination. Over a period of 10 years, 72 cases of dystocia were analysed using a standardised, predetermined diagnosis code., Results: Of the 72 cases of dystocia, an isolated cause of dystocia was identified in 37 cases (51.4%) and 35 mares showed a combination of two or more causes (48.6%). Foetal causes were significantly more frequent origin of dystocia (66/69) than maternal causes (3/66) (P < 0.0001). Incorrect posture of the foetal forelimbs and head was the most common combination at 25.7%. The most common isolated cause of dystocia was incorrect posture of the foetal forelimbs (18.9%). A foetotomy was performed in 68% of cases. A caesarean section or an extraction was performed in 13.9% of the cases. Three mares died before any obstetric care was provided. Nine mares (12.5%) were not discharged alive. 73 foals were delivered of which 55 were already dead before veterinary treatment began. In relation to the total number of births in which the foetus was alive at the start of obstetric care, the foetal mortality rate was 61.1% and 88.9% by the time the mare was discharged., Conclusions: It has been demonstrated for the first time that multiple causes of dystocia in horses are almost as common as isolated causes of dystocia. Neonatal mortality remains high, indicating that the timely detection and treatment of dystocia has the highest priority., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Stillbirths account for a relevant proportion of total calf mortality on dairy farms. In addition, the stillbirth rate is an important criterion for assessing animal welfare. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the stillbirth rate and aspects concerning the management of cows ante partum and during the calving period in larger dairy herds., Material and Methods: In 97 dairy farms with an average herd size of 550 cattle (≥24 months old), data concerning farm management and animal health were collected as part of a farm inspection using a questionnaire. The stillbirth rate of the respective farms was determined based on the farm's own data on the milk yield test and analyzed for possible correlations with farm management using a multivariable factor analysis., Results: A higher stillbirth rate was found on farms with particularly lean and overconditioned transit cows in the herd. A positive association to the stillbirth rate was also found for farms using a special birth monitoring system for heifers and those with more than 20% assisted calvings. There was no association with herd size., Conclusions: Regardless of herd size, factors that are related to the stillbirth rate may be determined by analyzing the farm management. The body condition of the cows is a key parameter. The introduction of special birth monitoring for heifers can probably be interpreted as a reaction to increased stillbirths in the herd., Clinical Relevance: Conditioning cows before calving is an important field of action for herd managers in order to avoid stillbirths. The cows should not approach the calving period in an overly lean or over-conditioned state. When in such state, however, it is advisable for these cows to be monitored more closely in order to allow for professional assistance at the pertinent time period. Integration of body condition scoring of cows at dry-off, calving and the end of the high-yielding period, assessment of calving conditions and training of staff involved in obstetrics into veterinary herd management is warranted., Competing Interests: Die Autoren erklären, dass sie keine konkurrierenden Interessen haben., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

As part of a literature review, a systematic search was carried out to determine how the focus of research on dystocia in cattle has changed in the German- and English-spoken literature between the 1960s and 2020 as well as to evaluate the the quality of the scientific literature to date. To this end, 621 references were analyzed. It is evident that the number of publications increased between 2010 and 2020, which emphasizes the importance of the subject. Case series (35.3%) are the most common type of publication. Controlled studies (4.5%) and meta-analyses (0.3%) were found much less frequently. The causes (43.8%) and consequences of dystocia (28.8%) have been investigated most frequently to date, while the frequency has only been analyzed in few studies (7.2%). While treatment methods were mainly evaluated from 1960 to 1979, no chronological focus can be found for the topics "causes of dystocia" and "consequences of dystocia". Publications focusing on the prevention of dystocia are increasingly found from the 1980s onwards.To summarize, it can be stated that publications on the causes of dystocia are currently the most relevant in quantitative terms. For future research projects, the studies should be planned in such a way that they can form the basis for systematic studies, reviews and meta-analyses., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The effectiveness and justification of every therapy and other clinical decisions is based on a correct diagnosis. However, many types of test results can contain uncertainties that may lead to clinically incorrect decisions. The same applies to the reliability of expert opinions for legal disputes. Adequate communication of diagnostic and expert uncertainties in the examination report or expert opinion is therefore crucial for avoiding incorrect decisions. The liability of the person providing the service is also affected. However, uncertain or even erroneous findings can have various causes, only some of which are known to the examining or commissioning person. This article provides an overview of 3 different types of susceptibility to errors using the example of pathological biopsy and cytology examinations, which can also be transferred to other veterinary disciplines in a similar way. A solid understanding of the possible sources of error as well as adequate communication and discussion of case-specific, limited probabilities in investigation reports and expert opinions make a significant contribution to avoiding incorrect decisions. However, commonly used terms such as "highly probable", "suspected" or "cannot be ruled out" are sometimes interpreted in unclear or divergent ways, which are explained here with recommendations for uniform use. This is intended to enable the person making the decision, if necessary, to initiate further diagnostic tests or gather further evidence in the context of all other available data in order to reduce the risk of error as far as possible., Competing Interests: Die Autoren erklären, dass kein Interessenkonflikt vorliegt., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Selenium supply plays a major role in calf rearing, as a deficiency can lead to health problems, economic loss, and even death. Therefore, postnatal selenium injections are often administered as a preventive measure., Objective: In this study, we examined the serum selenium concentrations of healthy and sick calves within the first days of life. Further, serum concentrations after injection with selenium were determined., Animals and Procedure: Serum selenium concentrations from 75 calves were measured until the 10th d of life and the differences between sick and healthy calves were investigated. The variations in selenium concentration were analyzed 3 and 6 d after subcutaneous injection of 5.5 mg sodium selenite in 32 calves.To compare serum concentrations between healthy and sick calves, an independent samples t -test was used. For unequal variances, the Satterthwaite method was used; and for equal variances, the pooled sample variance was used. To analyze the statistical differences between the concentrations at different time points, the data were log-transformed and the Bonferroni correction was used., Results: The mean initial selenium concentration was 46 ± 37 μg/L. There was no statistically significant difference ( P = 0.60) between sick (46 ± 34 μg/L) and healthy (46 ± 47 μg/L) calves. Serum selenium concentrations 3 and 6 d after injection of calves over 3 samples were 62 ± 19 μg/L and 50 ± 13 μg/L, respectively. Calves with an initial serum concentration of ≥ 72 μg/L showed a decrease of serum selenium concentration despite the injection., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Newborn calves showed a high variation in selenium concentration that was not influenced by health status. A single injection of 5.5 mg of sodium selenite did increase the selenium concentration in calves with selenium undersupply. After injection, none of the calves showed serum concentrations above the reference range for adult cattle. Therefore, the indication for a selenium injection can be interpreted generously if selenium undersupply is suspected., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Background and Aim: Postpartum uterine disease, such as endometritis, is widespread in highly productive dairy cows, leading to fertility problems and economic losses. Despite existing diagnostic methods, early and effective detection of uterine infections remains problematic due to the subclinical nature of some conditions. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a rapid diagnostic test for endometritis in cows on different days postpartum (PP)., Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on dairy Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 121) kept on farms in northern Kazakhstan. The study included both clinically normal cows and those diagnosed with endometritis, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the diagnostic methods across different stages of uterine health. The following laboratory tests were performed to diagnose and evaluate the presence and severity of endometritis in the cows: Nagorny-Kalinovsky test, Whiteside test, Katerinov test, Gavrish silver nitrate test, peroxide test, and clinical tests (rectal and vaginal examination). These tests were specifically chosen to identify inflammatory processes in the uterus, particularly focusing on detecting endometritis., Results: From day 21 to 30 PP, rectal and vaginal examinations were 32% and 28% more effective than the Nagorny-Kalinovsky test and the Whiteside test. From day 61 postpartum, the Whiteside test was 37.5% more effective than the Nagorny-Kalinovsky test. Comparatively, among laboratory diagnostic methods from days 10 to 110 PP, the peroxide test showed the greatest effectiveness in identifying 80.9% of sick animals. In sick animals from day 10 to 20 PP, during the interaction of the cervicovaginal mucus with 10%, 20%, and 30% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), an 8.1 ± 1.9-8.8 ± 1.6 cm foam column was formed within 4-5 min., Conclusion: The experiment showed that a 10% H 2 O 2 solution yielded better results. Using H 2 O 2 as a diagnostic agent for endometritis in cows has several advantages, including ease of use, it does not require special laboratory conditions and provides a visual reading of the reaction within 4-5 min. A limitation of this study is the focus on H 2 O 2 without exploring other potential reagents that may enhance diagnostic accuracy. Future research could explore the long-term stability of cervicovaginal mucus samples and investigate the integration of additional substances that may expedite the detection of subclinical endometritis and improve the clarity of diagnostic results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Jakupov, et al.)

Background: Feeding milk substitutes with low iron content or whole milk without iron supplementation is considered a major factor in developing iron-deficiency anemia in neonatal dairy calves. Young calves are often supplemented with iron dextran injections on the first day of life to prevent anemia. However, the effects of preventive treatment and the presence of disease on serum iron (Fe) concentrations, serum ferritin levels, and hematological blood parameters during the early neonatal stages have not been examined in detail. Therefore, we examined and evaluated the effects of iron dextran injections and health status on the development of hematocrit (Ht), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), erythrocyte indices (mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), Fe, and serum ferritin concentrations in dairy calves within the first 10 days of life. The suitability of serum ferritin as a reliable indicator of anemia in very young calves was evaluated by correlating ferritin concentrations with known laboratory diagnostic parameters of anemia., Results: Iron supplementation significantly increased Fe levels (P = 0.048) but did not affect serum ferritin levels in neonatal calves. Fe concentrations were significantly lower in diseased than healthy calves (P = 0.0417). Iron supplementation significantly affected the health status, as observed in Ht (P treat =0.0057; P health =0.0097), RBC (P treat =0.0342; P health =0.0243), and Hb (P treat =0.0170; P health =0.0168). Serum ferritin levels did not significantly correlate with Fe levels. Both groups showed marked differences in ferritin levels, with the highest levels measured on day 2. Fe concentrations showed weak negative correlations with Hb and Ht levels on day 3 (ρ=-0.45; P = 0.0034 and ρ=-0.045; P = 0.0032, respectively). RBC count showed strong positive correlations with Hb and Ht levels (ρ = 0.91 and ρ = 0.93; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Iron dextran injections increased Fe concentrations but reduced Ht level, RBC count, and Hb level. The presence of diseases led to a reduction in Fe and higher values of Ht, RBC, and Hb in moderate disease than in severe disease. Due to physiological fluctuations during the first 3 days of life, serum ferritin level seems unuseful for evaluating iron storage before day 4 of life., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

There are a few studies and case reports that postulate a connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders in bitches and an increased neonatal mortality and morbidity in puppies. Other studies, however, cannot demonstrate a connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders in bitches. In this work, the relevant literature is to be checked for its evidence. The connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders in the bitch, puppy mortality and neonatal morbidity to hypothyroidism will be analyzed based on a literature review. For this purpose, the available German and international "English-language" literature from 1986 to January 2023 was analyzed. It turns out that only a small amount of literature contains high levels of scientific evidence, as it mostly consists of case reports and expert opinions. In some case reports a connection between estrous abnormalities, galactorrhoea and infertility and the presence of hypothyroidism could be seen, but in experimental studies and according to the opinion of other authors the connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders does not exist. A negative influence of hypothyroidism on the birth process could not be clearly proven. In an experimental study, although the duration and intensity of uterine contractions were longer and weaker in animals with hypothyroidism, the interval between pup births was not affected. Only in the area of neonatal mortality and morbidity a connection with the hypothyroidism of the dam could be demonstrated. The puppies of affected bitches showed a lower birth weight and were weaker than puppies of euthyroid bitches. The importance of hypothyroidism for fertility in the bitch has not yet been documented in the literature, but this endocrinopathy seems to have an influence on neonatal vitality., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

A 9.4 mg deslorelin slow-release implant was inserted into an adult, healthy billy goat to achieve temporary infertility and a reduction in sexual behavior. The implant was inserted in late autumn. No significant change in testis size was observed over the following 6 weeks. The endocrine function of the testis, which was examined by stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin, was also unchanged after 6 weeks compared to the initial examination. Histological examination revealed a preserved spermatogenesis.In conclusion, the application of a GnRH analogue implant in the adult male goat has no influence on the investigated parameters - and thus probably also on its fertility., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Various systems are available for birth monitoring in horses, whereby a distinction must be made between methods for more accurate prediction of the date of birth in order to intensify monitoring of the mare in a timely manner as well as methods for detecting individuals that are in labor. Basically, it should be noted that there are almost no studies that compare different methods on the same population of mares. As the time of birth approaches, physiological parameters of mare and fetus change, but their variability is too high to predict the exact parturition time point prospectively. The best method currently available is the detection of a decrease in the pH value and an increase in the calcium concentration of the udder secretions.Continuous camera monitoring is currently the method of choice for the detection of the start of the parturition process. However, the downside of this method is that the recordings have to be evaluated by a human.Recent developments based on the use of artificial intelligence could provide significant improvement. Before these methods are ready for practical use, the combination of camera monitoring and a sensor that is sewn into the vulva and activated during the opening phase of parturition is the safest method., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The importance of Muscovy ducks in industrial poultry production is growing; however, little is known about the physiology of their reproductive cycles. This study investigated the influence of male biostimulation on female ducks before the commencement of the laying phase. A total of 30 muscovy ducks, hatched in the same year at 289-341 days of age, were divided into two groups of 15 birds each and kept with and without contact with a male duck until the day of first egg-laying-319 ± 14 and 335 ± 13, respectively. Before reaching egg-laying maturity, the cloacae of 29 adult ducks were subjected to daily clinical assessments. The evaluations yielded four unique categories of outcomes, determined by assessing factors such as the degree of redness and protrusion of the mucous membrane, the moisture level, and swelling of the cloacal sphincter muscle. The results of this study on biostimulation revealed that, on average, female ducks that had contact with males laid their first egg 16 days earlier, weighing 78.7 ± 3.0 g, compared to the isolated female ducks, weighing 79.1 ± 7.0 g. Furthermore, there was no significant difference observed in the mean initial egg weight between the groups ( p = 0.841). The cloacal morphology indicated significant morphological changes 25-26 days before laying. Efforts to improve Muscovy production and develop biotechnological techniques to modify these ducks' reproductive cycle will benefit from these advancements.

Background: Uroperitoneum is a typical disease of the newborn foal, which occurs rarely but regularly. Ultrasonography is considered the most important imaging method for diagnosing this disease. Thus far, only one older case series comprising 31 foals suffering from uroperitoneum has systematically listed results of ultrasound examinations., Objective: This paper presents the findings of an ultrasonographic examination of 34 foals with uroperitoneum in order to inform future interpretation of ultrasonographic data in suspected uroperitoneum cases., Method: Ultrasonographic data of 34 neonatal foals up to the age of 14 days diagnosed with uroperitoneum between 2006 and 2022 were analysed., Results: Most foals demonstrated highly increased levels of free (97%), anechogenic (91%) fluid in the abdomen. Although the urinary bladder was frequently visible (50%), bladder wall discontinuity was only occasionally detectable (18%)., Conclusion: Transabdominal ultrasonography has proved to be a very reliable imaging method for diagnosing suspected uroperitoneum. It is recommended that it be used in every case of suspected uroperitoneum in order to exclude differential diagnoses., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The cervix is an important organ that has to dilate sufficiently at delivery to allow the foetus to transition to extrauterine life. Insufficient dilatation of the cervix (IDC) is a frequent cause of dystocia in cattle. The mechanisms underlying cervical opening and the pathogenesis of IDC are still widely unclear. Systematic studies on the relationship between IDC and steroid hormones have been limited and have yielded inconsistent findings. This study aimed to measure oestrogen and progesterone (P4) concentrations in intrapartum cows presented with dystocia due to IDC and in a comparison (C) group of cows with eutocic delivery. Before any obstetrical procedures, and right after the initial evaluation, blood samples were taken from IDC and C animals. Concentrations of P4, oestradiol-17β (E2), free total oestrogens (FTE) and conjugated total oestrogens (CTE) were measured by established radioimmunoassays. Concentrations of P4 (p = .538), FTE (p = .065) and CTE (p = .605) were not statistically different between C and IDC groups. However, E2 levels in group C were significantly lower when compared to those in the IDC group (p = .013), which is inconsistent with the function of oestrogens in cervical dilatation. The correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive correlations between the pairs P4 versus FTE, P4 versus E2 and FTE versus E2 in group C and between the pair FTE versus E2 in group IDC. In conclusion, the results suggest that local activities of steroids relevant to the aetiology of IDC are not reflected by concentrations in the systemic circulation or that other factors are clearly more important., (© 2024 The Author(s). Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In horses, parturition is characterized by the fact that any delays may rapidly result in the death of the foal. Therefore, birth monitoring and the rapid detection of dystocia are of great importance. For this purpose, the differentiation between behavior associated with physiological parturition and activities related to difficult parturition is important. The aim of this publication is to present the physiological behavior of mares during parturition on the basis of a literature review. The behavior of mares in the opening phase of parturition is highly individual. In general, it is characterized by an increase in movement activity. In this phase of parturition, 13 different behaviors have been described (e. g. lying down and standing up, cessation of feed intake, local sweating, frequent defecation and urination). Mares show a more uniform pattern of behavior in the expulsion phase and the following phase of expulsion of the fetal membranes and placenta. More than 95% of mares give birth in the lateral position. A mare usually remains in recumbency for several minutes following the expulsion of the fetus. Immediately after standing up, the mare begins to intensely interact with the foal. The expulsion of the fetal membranes and the placenta usually takes place in a standing position. From a clinical point of view, it is important to give consideration to the difficulty in recognizing the opening phase of parturition due to the mares' individual behavior patterns., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The study aimed to assess the effects of water salinity on the sperm parameters, levels of cortisol, LH, FSH, testosterone and antioxidants as well as the testes' histopathology in Barki rams. Fifteen healthy Barki rams (1-1.5 years) were divided into three equal depending on the type of drinking water for nine months. The rams in the tap water group (TW, water that contained 350 ppm of total dissolved salts (TDS). Males in the high saline water group (HSW) were permitted to consume high saline water with 8,934 ppm TDS, whereas those in the second group were permitted to have moderately saline water (MSW, 4,557 ppm TDS). High salt concentration in drinking water had adverse effect on sperm viability, morphology and sperm cell concertation. Nitric oxide and malondialdehyde concentrations in blood were significantly higher in the MSW and HSW groups than in TW. There was a significant decrease in glutathione concentration as well as superoxide dismutase activity in TDS and HSW. Cortisol was most highly concentrated in the HSW, next in the MSW, and least in TW. The testosterone, LH, and FSH concentrations in the HSW and MSW groups were significantly lower than in TW. As the salt concentration in drinking water increases, damage to testicular tissue. The MSW group demonstrating vacuolation of lining epithelial cells with pyknotic nuclei in the epididymis and necrosis and desquamation of spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules while HSW group displaying desquamated necrotic cells and giant cell formation in the epididymis, as well as damage to some of the seminiferous tubules and showed congestion, vacuolation of spermatogenic epithelium of seminiferous tubules, and desquamated necrotic spermatogenic epithelium. In conclusion, the salinity of the water has detrimental impacts on the sperm morphology, viability and concentration, hormones and antioxidant levels in Barki rams., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The risk of developing tumorous diseases in the genital tract also increases with age in animals. One of the classified tumor types is genital leiomyoma. Presently, our understanding of the pathogenesis of this tumor in goats is, however, limited. This accounts also for the information regarding the presence of steroid hormone receptors and, thus, possible responsiveness to circulating steroids., Case Presentation: This study describes the case of a vaginal tumor in a seven-year-old Anglo-Nubian goat. The goat was presented due to blood mixed vaginal discharge. Per vaginal examination a singular pedunculated mass in the dorsum of the vagina measuring approximately 3 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm was revealed. After administering epidural anesthesia, the mass was removed electrothermally. There were no postoperative complications. The histopathological examination identified the mass as a leiomyoma. The immunohistochemical examination revealed the presence of the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR) in the tumor tissue. One year after the surgery, during the follow-up examination, the goat was in good overall health, and the owners had not observed any recurrence of vaginal discharge., Conclusions: When observing vaginal discharge in goats, it is important to consider the possibility of genital tract tumors. These tumors may express sex steroid receptors. In the future, it is worth considering the investigation of potential approaches for preventing tumorigenesis or treating the tumor, such as castration or the administration of antiprogestogens., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: An adequate supply of trace elements is very important for equine neonates, as deficiencies can lead to health problems and even death., Objective: This study investigated serum concentrations of selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in neonatal foals up to the 8th day of life. The influences of disease, age, and failure of passive transfer (FPT) on these concentrations were analyzed., Animals and Procedure: Serum concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn were determined from blood samples of 93 foals by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The foals were divided into 2 groups based on health status: clinically sick ( n = 51) and clinically healthy ( n = 42). The latter group was further divided into foals with FPT ( n = 20) and those without ( n = 22)., Results: Mean serum concentrations for Se, Cu, and Zn were 60 ± 40 μg/L, 0.25 ± 0.22 mg/L, and 605 ± 285 μg/L, respectively. A significant influence of age on serum Cu concentration was observed ( P < 0.0001). No differences were observed between any of the serum concentrations in clinically sick and clinically healthy foals on the 1st day of life. The FPT status was not associated with reduced serum concentrations of Se, Cu, or Zn., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: It is not necessary to supplement trace elements in all foals with FPT., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Object and Aim: This study presents the individual course of estradiol-17ß and progesterone concentrations in blood during the reproductive cycle in mares in order to point out physiological differences between individual animals and to aid in the interpretation of hormone values., Material and Methods: Concentrations of estradiol-17ß and progesterone were determined in seven mares over the course of their cycle. One mare was excluded from the study due to a physiologically deviating cycle. In addition, the mares' ovaries were examined via ultrasound on a daily basis in order to match the hormone values to morphological changes of the ovaries., Results: In some cases, the mares showed considerable individual differences in their hormone concentrations, which also differed from the published comparative values in the literature. For example, two mares showed progesterone levels above basal levels at the time of ovulation. The postovulatory progesterone concentrations of the mares are characterized by marked fluctuations, which makes it difficult to provide reference values in the different sections of the corpus luteum phase. The length of the plateau phases averaged 12.3±1.5 days. The mare with double ovulation showed the highest progesterone concentrations., Conclusion: The measurement of plasma progesterone levels in mares should be interpreted only in the context of other test results. The very wide variation in estradiol-17ß concentrations makes it questionable whether the determination of this hormone value is of diagnostic value., Clinical Relevance: When interpreting steroid hormone values in the ingravid cycle of a mare, the individual concentration courses must be taken into consideration, as they may deviate significantly from the published reference values., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The identification of typical behaviors in stage I of parturition, the opening phase, can be used to improve birth monitoring in the mare. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively analyze mare behavior during the opening phase. Real-time recordings of 66 births involving 56 warmblood mares were analyzed using camera footage. Behaviors such as increased locomotor activity, pawing with front hooves, lifting the tail, rolling, kicking with the hind legs toward the abdomen, and looking at the abdomen increased significantly ( p < 0.001) in the four hours preceding parturition. Within the last hour of the observation period, a statistically significant change was observed for the duration of lying in the sternal and lateral position ( p < 0.001). Significant correlations were observed between parity and the total number of repetitions of lying in the sternal position ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, the birth process influenced the repetitions of lying in the lateral position ( p < 0.05). These findings indicate distinct behavioral patterns during the opening phase of parturition, which were evident across the observed mares. Nonetheless, notable individual differences were also identified among the mares., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Dystocia typically presents a life-threatening condition for both the mare and the foal. This prospective long-term study aimed to ascertain whether mares with prior pregnancy disorders or a history of dystocia were at a higher risk of experiencing subsequent dystocia in comparison to those without such medical antecedents. To achieve this goal, the authors analysed 207 parturitions and 164 mares over a 10-year period. Of these, 57 were associated with pregnancy disorders or prior dystocia (Group 1), while 150 parturitions followed uneventful pregnancies in mares that had not yet experienced dystocia (Group 2). Mares in Group 1 were significantly more likely to develop dystocia than those in Group 2 (p = .0180; odds ratio = 2.98). Foetal causes of dystocia were more prevalent than maternal causes (p < .0389). Maternal mortality stood at 0.5%, and neonatal mortality reached 1.9%. The results demonstrate that mares are at significantly higher risk of developing dystocia after experiencing pregnancy disorders or parturition complications during previous pregnancies, emphasizing the need for systematic birth monitoring., (© 2024 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: Until now, sources used by final-year veterinary students to develop clinical questions have not yet been investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to record the use of sources by final-year veterinary students. This data should assist with the improvement of future veterinary teaching and enable it to meet the needs of students and veterinarians., Material and Methods: For this purpose, the use of sources by 172 students in the compulsory development of a clinical question was evaluated., Results: The most frequently cited sources were textbooks (37.7%), lecture notes (27.0%), websites (15.4%), professional articles (11.8%), scientific papers (7.8%), and, least frequently, the category of legal texts (0.3%)., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that students primarily use sources with which they are familiar from their studies. Educators should be aware of this and design their lecture materials accordingly., Clinical Relevance: Teaching students competence in the use of scientific literature is a task for teachers in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) indicates ovarian reserve in cattle, maintaining a consistent trajectory post-puberty. In heterosexual pregnancies, the development of the Müllerian duct in female foetuses is inhibited, resulting in an anticipated minimal or absent ovarian reserve capacity. This investigation aimed to compare AMH levels in healthy Holstein heifers that had reached puberty with those of freemartin animals of the same breed and age. The study incorporated Holstein heifers reaching puberty between 11 and 15 months of age in Group 1 (G1, n = 20) and freemartin animals in Group 2 (G2, n = 19, 16). AMH measurements (AMH-1/AMH-2) were recorded at 12-day intervals for the study participants. Notably, AMH levels in three freemartin animals could not be detected, prompting statistical analysis based on measurements from the remaining 16 freemartin animals in G2. A statistically significant correlation was observed between two separate measurements in G1 and G2 (p < .001). Furthermore, AMH-1 and AMH-2 levels were statistically higher in G1 than in G2 (p < .001). In G1, AMH-1 levels ranged from 227 to 677 pg/mL, with an average of 367.3 ± 25.5 pg/mL, and AMH-2 levels ranged from 234 to 645 pg/mL, with an average of 380.8 ± 24.4 pg/mL. Conversely, in G2, AMH-1 levels ranged from 10 to 72 pg/mL, with an average of 26.8 ± 4.44 pg/mL, and AMH-2 levels ranged from 12 to 68 pg/mL, with an average of 28.75 ± 4.18 pg/mL. The mean AMH levels in G1 were approximately 14 times higher than in G2 (p < .001). Consequently, ROC analysis utilizing AMH-1 and AMH-2 data established cut-off values of ≤72 and ≤ 68 pg/mL respectively for distinguishing freemartin animals. In conclusion, AMH could be used as a reliable biomarker for identifying Holstein freemartin animals., (© 2024 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background and Aim: In horse breeding, birth monitoring is an important factor in minimizing losses during parturition. Although different birth monitoring systems are available for this purpose, the current literature lacks systematic suitability analyses. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature. In order to achieve this, we examined a large number of foaling mares to assess the suitability of a transponder-based birth monitoring system attached to the vulva., Materials and Methods: Seventy warmblood mares were observed during foaling, and 86 foals were born during the foaling seasons of 2021 and 2022. Video surveillance in the foaling stable provided video recordings of births. This allowed the opportunity to assess the birth monitoring system's reporting accuracy. The exact times and reasons for each alarm were documented and the proportions of correctly detected births, false alarms, and unrecognized births were calculated., Results: Overall, 96.5% of foalings were correctly detected using the birth monitoring system, with a sensitivity rate of 96% and a specificity rate of 91%. False alarms were primarily caused when a mare rubbed her tail against the stable walls., Conclusion: These data suggest that the tested transponder is well suited for monitoring the birth of mares. However, it is recommended that this method should be used in combination with other birth monitoring methods because not all births were detected correctly., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Lindinger and Wehrend, et al.)

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in the blood of dairy cattle are associated with the count of antral follicles (AFC), ovarian function. Numerous studies, particularly in human medicine, have shown that vitamin D3 (Vit D3) has a positive effect on AMH levels. To our knowledge, the effects of Vit D3 on serum AMH levels in heifers have not been investigated. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the concentrations of serum AMH in dairy heifers following Vit D3 treatment. The study included 20 healthy non-pregnant Holstein Friesian heifers. These animals came to estrus at least once. All heifers received a single intramuscular dosage of 5 million IU Vit D3 (Cholecalciferol). Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal veins of all animals before and after Vit D3 injection (days 7, 14, and 28) for the measurement of AMH and 25(OH)D concentrations. In our analysis, we observed that after exogenous Vit D3 administration, circular 25(OH)D increased constantly (up to day 28 after Vit D3 injection) in all animals. On day 28, AMH concentrations saw a 10% increase in comparison with those measured the day before the Vit D3 injection. However, a comparison of AMH concentrations measured across days did not reveal statistically significant differences between Day 0, 7, 14, and 28 levels (p = .10). Furthermore, no statistical correlation was observed between the pairs (age-AMH) and (weight-AMH). Considering all times, no correlation was found between 25(OH)D and blood AMH levels. These findings demonstrated that exogenous Vit D3 did not affect serum AMH in Holstein Friesian heifers., (© 2023 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

An adequate supply of colostrum is important for the prevention of hypogammaglobulinaemia in foals. In addition to the quantity of colostrum consumed and the time of consumption, the quality of the colostrum, the immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration, is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine whether the viscosity of equine colostrum was a suitable estimate of IgG concentration. IgG content of colostrum was measured by ELISA and viscosity directly measured with a cone plate viscometer and indirectly assessed with a funnel. Analysis of 56 colostrum samples obtained from 40 mares at different postpartum time points was conducted to assess colostrum samples with varying levels of quality. The range of IgG concentrations determined by ELISA was 0.83 to 245.5 mg/mL (30.69 ± 41.92 mg/mL). The range of viscosity values determined by the cone plate method was 1.84 to 110.00 cP (7.86 ± 17.48 cP) at a shear rate of 3 rpm. Colostrum drainage from the funnel (drainage time), varied between 7.9 and 30.0 s, with an average of 9.96 ± 4.48 s. As the data were not normally distributed, Spearman's rank correlation analyses were calculated and significant correlation found between viscosity and IgG content (ρ = 0.71, P < .001), as well as between drainage time and IgG content (ρ = 0.75, P < .001). These correlations indicate that determining the viscosity of equine colostrum by cone plate or drainage time, may be an effective proxy measurement of IgG content., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dystocia represents a life-threatening condition for mare and foal. Morbidity and mortality rates due to a difficult birth, as well as the influence on fertility of the mare were analyzed, based on a review of publications. This was aggravated by the fact that no standardized diagnostic code was used and that most publications do not clearly describe how extensively the examinations were performed beforehand. Retentio secundinarum is the most common complication caused by dystocia. Other complications are injuries to the soft birth canal and the colon. These occur more frequently after surgical obstetrics than following assisted vaginal deliveries. Performing a fetotomy increases the risk of injury to the birth canal. After a caesarean section, the risk for retained placenta increases significantly. In order to evaluate the possibility of medical progress over time, mortality rates of mare and foal were investigated and divided in surgical and conservative obstetrics within the period of 1970-1990 and 1991-2021. The average maternal mortality rate following caesarean section amounted to 18% in the time period between 1970 and 1990 and 14% between the years from 1991-2021. After fetotomy, the two determined mortality rates amounted to 29% and 10% for the time between 1970 and 1990. In the period 1991-2021, the rate varies between 4% and 44% with an average mortality rate of 14%. Following controlled vaginal delivery, the average mortality rate is 9%. Literary sources were however only available for the current time period and range between 6% and 29%. The morbidity and mortality rate of foals is very high. Following caesarean section on average 53% of foals are dead on delivery, with a range of 13-79% in case reports from the years 1991-2021. The number of dead foals in the context of conservative obstetrics is of a similar scale. Postnatal foal diseases are largely due to intrapartum hypoxia during dystocia and obstetric injury. In consequence of a difficult delivery, mares experience reduced fertility. In numerous cases this however may be compensated by pausing from further breeding in the same year. The number of cases evaluated in this context however remains too small to advocate any recommendations for breeding following incidents of dystocia., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Infections with the apicomplexan obligate intracellular parasite Cryptosporidium parvum lead to cryptosporidiosis-a worldwide zoonotic infection. C. parvum is one of the most common diarrheal pathogens in young calves, which are the main reservoir of the pathogen. Cryptosporidiosis leads to severe economic losses in the calf industry and being a major contributor to diarrhea morbidity and mortality in children. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are part of the innate immune system. Their effector mechanisms directed against invasive parasites include phagocytosis, production of antimicrobial molecules as well as the formation of so-called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Like other leukocytes of the innate immune system, PMN are thus able to release chromatin fibers enriched with antimicrobial granular molecules extracellularly thereby immobilizing and partially killing invasive bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites., Methods: In vitro interactions of neonatal bovine PMN and C. parvum-oocysts and sporozoites were illustrated microscopically via scanning electron microscopy- and live cell imaging 3D holotomographic microscopy analyses. C. parvum -triggered NETosis was quantified via extracellular DNA measurements as well as verified via detection of NET-typical molecules [histones, neutrophil elastase (NE)] through immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. To verify the role of ATP in neonatal-derived NETosis, inhibition experiments were performed with NF449 (purinergic receptor antagonist with high specificity to P2X1 receptor)., Results and Discussion: Using immunofluorescence- and SEM-based analyses, we demonstrate here for the first time that neonate bovine PMN are capable of forming NETs against C. parvum -sporozoites and oocysts, thus as a stage-independent cell death process. Our data further showed that C. parvum strongly induces suicidal neonatal NETosis in a P2X1-dependent manner, suggesting anti-cryptosporidial effects not only through firm sporozoite ensnarement and hampered sporozoite excystation, but also via direct exposure to NETs-associated toxic components., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Grabbe, Conejeros, Velásquez, Hasheminasab, Kamena, Wehrend, Gärtner, Taubert and Hermosilla.)

Subject and Aim: In the literature, various methods aiming for a promotion of uterine involution and ovarian function in post-partum dairy cattle have been described. Recently, successful use of equine choriongonadotropin (eCG) in this context has been repeatedly reported, while other studies have failed to demonstrate positive effects of eCG administration on puerperal involution in cows. Due to the contradictory results described in the literature, the aim of this field study was to verify whether the administration of eCG on day 10 post-partum exerts a positive effect on uterine involution, ovarian activity and fertility indices in Simmental cows., Material and Methods: In nine dairy farms, 205 Simmental cows were divided by lot into three groups: Group 1 animals received 500 I.U. eCG, group 2 received 50 µg gonadorelin, and group 3 animals received 250 mg butafosfan and 125 µg cyanocobalamin (control group). Treatment was administered on day 10 post-partum in each case. The animals were examined clinically and ultrasonographically on the 10th, 25th and 42nd day post-partum and the time to insemination and pregnancy were recorded. Group comparison with respect to the recorded parameters was initially performed without considering confounding factors by analysis of variance. In the second step, potential influencing variables (lactation, milk yield, change in backfat thickness, retentio secundarium and serverity of the obstetric intervention) were taken into account, as well as the combination of the random factors "farm" and "individual animal within the farm"., Results: The administration of eCG exhibited no significant effect on uterine involution, however, the cervical involution was influenced significantly. In the group of cows with eCG treatment, ovarian cysts were detected significantly more frequently on day 25 post-partum (p=0.04). This difference did not persist on the 42nd day post-partum. Neither voluntary waiting period nor the days open were significantly shortened by eCG administration. Lactation number showed a significant effect on uterine involution. Heifers exhibited more rapid involution by day 42 post-partum than cows., Conclusion: Administration of eCG in Simmentaler cows at day 10 post-partum showed no positive effect., Clinical Relevance: The use of eCG in early puerperium to promote fertility in the cow should be avoided., Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the use of hand-powered vacuum pumps and the suspension by the hind legs within the scope of resuscitating newborn dystocial calves., Material and Methods: For this study, data were collected from 60 dystocial calves of different breeds. Various reanimation methods were employed to these calves immediately after birth. In group I (n=20), the hand-powered vacuum pump from HK-Rheintechnik (Neuwied, Deutschland) was used to remove mucus and amniotic fluid from the respiratory tract. In group II (n=20), the McCulloch Medical (Elmwood, England) hand-powered vacuum pump was used to remove mucus and amniotic fluid from the respiratory tract. In group III (n=20) 10 to 12 liters of cold water were poured over the neck of 20 calves immediately after birth. In addition, the calves were suspended by the hind legs via a gate or a pole, so that the head hung downwards vertically. The calves' Time to Sternal Recumbency (T-SR) of the calves was measured following the different resuscitation procedures in order to assess their vitality. In addition, the calves were examined segmentally at one-hour post natum. Furthermore, the calves were examined clinically on the seventh day of life. In addition, we investigated whether confounding variables such as calf sex, dam parity, obstetric intervention, and the season affected T-SR., Results: T-SR ranged from 1.5 to 10.5 minutes. There was no difference between the three initial treatment procedures (p=0.07). However, the T-SR of calves treated with a hand-powered vacuum pump tended to be shorter. No statistically significant difference between the pulse rates (p=0.73), respiratory rates (p=0.13), and rectal temperature (p=0.65) of the animals in the three groups on the first and seventh day of life was evident. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of the diseases up to the seventh day of life between the individual study groups., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: The present study was able to show that the use of hand-powered vacuum pumps is at least equivalent to suspending calves. When using hand-powered vacuum pumps, the girth of the muzzle must be taken into account, as this can limit their utility., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

This case report describes the occurrence of canine herpesvirus 1 in a litter of French bulldogs. In addition, the literature dealing with CHV-1 in puppies is summarized. Two puppies were presented due to dyspnea. During the night, one of them developed diarrhea as well as a highly disturbed general condition and was subsequently euthanized the following day. The second puppy was euthanized 6 hours later with a highly disturbed general condition. Necropsy revealed evidence of canine herpesvirus infection. This was confirmed by a virological examination. The presented case report shows that canine herpesvirus infection must also be considered as a cause of death in newborn puppies in Germany., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass keine geschützten, beruflichen oder anderswertigen persönlichen Interessen an einem Produkt oder einer Firma bestehen, welche die in der vorliegenden Veröffentlichung genannten Inhalte oder Meinungen beeinflussen können., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The current study investigates how uterine torsion influences placental oestrogens and progesterone blood concentrations in intrapartum cows. Our research tests the hypothesis that intrapartum uterine torsion impairs the ability of the placenta to synthesize steroids and may also suppress the release of synthesized steroids into the maternal circulation., Methods: The study included a total number of 37 intrapartum dairy cows of various breeds and ages. These animals were transported to our clinic by their owners. Furthermore, general and obstetrical examinations of all these animals were performed in our clinic. The uterine torsion (UT) group consisted of 20 animals. The presence of UT was verified during clinical general examinations by vaginal and transrectal examination. The comparison (C) group included 17 animals whose birth was undisturbed or could be terminated with moderate obstetrical assistance. The clinical examination of group C animals showed no problems with their general health and genital organs. Blood samples were collected immediately after the initial obstetrical examination from 37 cows for radioimmunological measurement of estradiol-17β (E2), free total estrogen (FTE), conjugated total estrogen (CTE), and progesterone (P4)., Results: In terms of P4, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. For all estrogen parameters, however, concentrations were significantly lower in the UT group than in the C group. In the correlation analysis, there was a significant correlation between the P4 and the FTE in the C group. Furthermore, the positive correlation between all estrogen parameters in the UT group was significant. In group C, significant positive correlations were found apart from the correlation between E2 and CTE., Conclusions: The results are consistent with the hypothesis and suggest that in UT animals processes dependent on estrogens or other placental hormones may be impaired during the peri- or postpartum period., (© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Colostrum is one of the most important factors influencing the health and development of mammalian neonates. It is well-established that leukocytes, including polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), migrate from the mother to the infant via colostrum uptake. In this study, for the first time, we studied the ability of ovine colostral-derived PMN to extrude neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) against the abortive apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum . Although this cell population plays a significant role in the transmission of maternal innate immunity to neonates, little is known about colostral PMN activities in sheep. However, this cell population is a significant source of the transfer of maternal immunity to the neonate. Colostral PMN continues to exert immunological effects even after transitioning into the colostrum. The present study aimed to investigate the extrusion of NETs by ovine colostral PMN exposed to the apicomplexan parasite, N. caninum , which is known to cause devastating reproductive disorders in cattle, small ruminants, wildlife animals, and dogs. The present study is the first to demonstrate that ovine colostral PMN can produce NETs after stimulation with vital N. caninum tachyzoites. Ovine colostrum-derived NETs were detected by chromatin staining and antibody-based immunofluorescence staining of NET-specific structures, including neutrophil elastase (NE) and global histones (H1, H2A/H2B, H3, H4), as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Demattio, Conejeros, Grob, Gärtner, Taubert, Hermosilla and Wehrend.)

Background: Umbilical disinfection for calves is often recommended, but scientific studies do not always show a positive effect on disease prevention. In addition, there is little to no metric data on umbilical involution or on factors influencing the size of umbilical structures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the physiological involution of umbilical structures and the effect of two different umbilical treatment methods., Methods: After birth, calves' umbilical cord stumps were treated with either an iodine tincture (n = 43) or an antibiotic spray (n = 41) or were left untreated (n = 42). On days 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 after birth, calves were examined and external umbilical structures were measured. In addition, on day 14 (±2 days), a sonographic examination of umbilical structures was conducted., Results: The treatment applied had no significant effect on the size of umbilical structures during the first 14 days of life. However, the diameter of the umbilical stalk was larger in male calves and calves with a higher birth weight than in female calves and calves with a lower birth weight., Limitation: The study was carried out on only one farm, so the generalisability of the findings may be limited., Conclusion: Umbilical structures showed significant involution over time and were influenced by birth weight and sex., (© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

As tails are often docked within the first days of life, studies investigating tail malformations and injuries in sheep do not exist thus far. To address this gap in the literature, this research aimed to analyse the occurrence of vertebral anomalies and fractures in the tail within an undocked Merinoland sheep population. At 14 weeks of age, the caudal spines of 216 undocked Merinoland lambs was radiographically examined, and tail length and circumference were measured. Anomalies were documented and statistical correlation and model calculations were performed. The occurrence of block vertebrae was observed in 12.96% and wedged vertebrae in 8.33% of the sample. Of the animals, 59 (27.31%) exhibited at least one vertebral fracture, which were observed in the middle and caudal third of the tail. A significant correlation was found between the occurrence of fractures and tail length (r = 0.168) and number of vertebrae (r = 0.155). Conversely, the presence of block and wedged vertebrae was not significantly correlated with tail length, circumference, or number of vertebrae. Only the sex showed significant differences in the probability of axis deviation. These results emphasize the importance of breeding for short tails to avoid fractures.

Objective: Numerous raptor species including some falcon species are facing continuous population decline in the wild and some are threatened by extinction. To support these species, captive breeding and reintroduction programs are attempted. Besides conservation, some large falcon species are commonly used in falconry and therefore bred commercially. Assisted reproduction is established in falcon breeding since the 1970s and semen analysis is an integral part to enable assessment of breeding males, inclusion or exclusion of semen donors and quality control of semen prior to artificial insemination. Conventional methods for semen analysis are widely used, but are time consuming and depend on the investigator's experience and ability. Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) would offer an objective, fast and reproducible alternative, but as they have not been established in large falcon species, this was the aim of this study., Material and Methods: To this end, we examined in 3 breeding seasons 109 semen samples of gyr-saker hybrid falcons (n=2) and peregrine falcons (n=4) in 940 fields of view using the Minitube CASA SpermVision and compared these results to results of conventional methods of semen analysis. We used a preprogrammed setting and adapted two settings of CASA according to specific semen characteristics of falcons., Results: Sperm velocity, motility and viability parameters were recorded successfully using CASA. Correlation of conventional and computer-assisted motility analysis improved during the process of adaptation of CASA settings, but both methods differed significantly due to misinterpretation of round bodies and semen impurities by CASA. Viability values of conventional and computer assisted viability analysis using SYBR-PI correlated significantly while sperm concentration did not at all., Conclusion: CASA failed to replace conventional semen analysis regarding sperm motility and sperm concentration using 3 different settings, as a reliable differentiation between spermatozoa, spermatids and round bodies was not achieved., Clinical Relevance: Using CASA, sperm velocity parameters were measured in spermatozoa of captive-bred large falcons for the first time and may be used as orientation values., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Tail docking is routinely conducted in long-tailed sheep breeds to prevent flystrike infections, but it is not in agreement with legal guidelines and animal welfare issues. Selection on short tails is a sustainable alternative in this regard, but side effects on other breeding goal traits are unclear. In consequence, the present study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for tail length (TL) at birth, birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and postweaning weight (PWW) at the slaughtering date considering single-trait (STM), multiple-trait (MTM) and structural equation models (SEM) with different random effects, and accordingly, different covariance structures. The SEM considered time-lagged recursive relationships among response variables in three different pathways. The first path pertained to the effect of TL on WW and of WW on PWW. The second path reflected the effect of BW on WW and of WW on PWW. The third path was the recursive effect of TL on PWW. The phenotypic data consisted of 2803 records for TL, 13,042 records for BW, 1556 records for WW and 3986 records for PWW from Merinoland lambs. Lambs were born in the period from 1995 to 2021 and kept at the university Gießen research station, Germany, with their naturally long tails. Genetic statistical model evaluation based on Bayesian and Akaike's information criteria suggested models simultaneously considering direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects and respective covariances. For statistical models including the same random effects and covariance structures, SEM were superior over MTM. The direct heritability for TL from the best-fitting STM was 0.60 ± 0.08, indicating the potential for genetic reduction of tail length within a few generations. For growth traits, the direct heritabilities ranged from 0.16 ± 0.03 for BW to 0.31 ± 0.09 for PWW. The maternal heritabilities were 0.03 ± 0.03 for TL, 0.12 ± 0.02 for BW, 0.04 ± 0.03 for WW and 0.07 ± 0.03 for PWW, reflecting small, but the non-significant influence of uterine characteristics on the tail development. The direct genetic correlations between TL and all weight traits were positive and very similar to MTM and SEM but reflected antagonistic genetic relationships from a breeding perspective. Oppositely, the structural equation coefficients reflecting trait associations phenotypically were negative (favourable) for the time-lagged effects of TL on WW and on PWW. As an explanation, lambs with long and woolly tails have an increased risk for contamination with dirt and dust causing infections, which in turn impairs the body weight development. In conclusion, breeding on short tails should consider trait-associated environmental risk factors, for example, disease susceptibility, which can be mimicked via SEM approaches., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In horses, birth is classified as dystocia when the process of parturition threatens to inflict damage onto the mare or the foal, when assistance is required to complete the process of parturition, or when there are temporal deviations in the physiological duration of the first and/or second parturition stages. In this, the duration of the second stage is an important indicator in identifying dystocia, as this phase is easily discernible by the mare's behavior. Equine dystocia is classified as an emergency with life-threatening consequences for mare and foal. A large degree of variation has been found in the reported incidence of dystocia. Stud farm surveys reported dystocia in 2-13% of all births, regardless of breed. Fetal malpositioning of the limbs and neck during parturition is described as the most common cause of dystocia in horses. The species-specific length of limbs and neck is considered to be the reason for this finding., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Mast cells (MCs) play an essential role in regulating tissue homeostasis through various non-allergic immune reactions. This study aimed to describe the salient features of MCs during different phases of the estrous cycle and evaluate the relationship between ovarian hormones and the presence of MCs in camel ovaries., Materials and Methods: Genital tracts (n = 28) of healthy, non-pregnant camels were collected from a local slaughterhouse. The follicular wave stage was determined according to structures on the ovaries using an ultrasound device. Stages were classified as "growing" (n = 12, FØ = 0.3-0.8 cm), "mature" (n = 9, FØ = 0.9-2.2 cm), or "regression" phase (n = 7, FØ >2.5). Blood samples were collected at slaughter to determine serum estradiol-17β and progesterone levels using an immunoassay. Safranin-O, periodic acid/Schiff, alcian blue, or methylene blue stains were used to detect MCs., Results: Follicular numbers at the growing, mature, and regression phases were determined to be 36, 14, and 7 follicles, respectively. Mast cells were widely but sparsely distributed within the ovarian tissue (9.3 MCs in the growing phase, 10.7 in the mature phase, and 7.0 in the regression phase). Typical histological features of MCs were observed in ovarian stromal tissue. Some MCs were found in the interstitial tissue, either near the follicular wall or the interstitial gland. Mast cells were present at a higher density during the mature phase than in the growing and regression phases in the ovarian matrix. A significantly reduced presence of MCs was found in the regression phase than in both the growing and mature phases (p < 0.05). A very strong positive correlation was observed between serum estradiol-17β concentrations and MC density in the ovaries (r = 0.9; p < 0.001). In addition, a strong negative correlation (r = -0.65; p = 0.03) was observed between the presence of MCs and serum progesterone concentrations., Conclusion: These findings suggest that the follicular wave phase and the associated hormonal concentration induce changes in the number of MCs in the camel ovary., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Mohamed, et al.)

In this study, we measured the serum concentration of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), C-reactive protein (CRP), progesterone (P4), and the complete blood count (CBC) in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches. The aim was to investigate the suitability of these parameters for monitoring canine pregnancy. Blood samples were collected from all bitches introduced for timed mating on the day of first mating (>5 ng/ml). The first blood sample after mating was obtained on day 12 post-copulation. The dogs whose pregnancy was confirmed on days 25 and 35, were allotted to the pregnancy positive group (G+) and those that were not pregnant were grouped as pregnancy negative (G). Ultrasonography (US) was performed on days 25, 35, 45 and 55 in pregnant (N = 13) and non-pregnant (N = 7) animals; The sonographic examinations in non-pregnant bitches were continued up to day 63, and in pregnant bitches they were also carried out one day after parturition (D+1). Blood samples were taken in parallel with these periods. Furthermore, the pregnant bitches were classified as G1A (1-2 puppies), G1B (3-4 puppies), and G1C (5-11 puppies) based on the number of puppies, and G1X (10 kg), G1Y (10-20 kg), and G1Z (>20 kg) based on their body weight. No significant difference was found between G+ and G-with regard to AMH, except on day 45, when AMH was higher in G+ (P < 0.01). On the other hand, the CRP values in the G+ exceeded those in the G-group on day 25 (38.26 vs. 15.66 mg/L, P < 0.05), on day 35 (32.54 vs. 15.97 mg/L, P < 0.05) and on day one after parturition (36.24 vs. 10.10 mg/L, P < 0.01). When puppy number was considered, it was discovered that CRP values significantly increased with puppy number on days 12 and 45 (G1A vs. G1B day 12: 4.13 vs 15.84 mg/L, P < 0.05; day 45: 12.40 vs. 25.76 mg/L, P < 0.001), and on day 35 (G1B vs. G1C: 24.18 vs. 38.87 mg/L, P < 0.01). With regards to AMH, this was only detectable on day 12 (G1A vs. G1B: 0.56 vs. 1.13 ng/mL, P < 0.05). When the body weight of the pregnant bitches was considered, bitches <10 kg had significantly higher AMH values than bitches bitch >20 kg on days 12 and 25 (day 12: 1.20 vs. 0.21 ng/mL, P < 0.01; day 25: 0.91 vs. 0.21 ng/mL, P < 0.05). This was not found in the case of CRP. The white blood cells (WBC) and the granulocytes (GRAN) were found to be higher in the G+ group (P < 0.01) on day 55, while the hematocrit (HCT) was significantly lower on day 45 (P < 0.05) and day 55 (P < 0.01). The increased GRAN was still detectable one day after parturition (P < 0.05). In conclusion, measurement of the AMH and CRP concentrations may contribute to determination of gestation stage and monitoring of the course of pregnancy; values are related to maternal body weight and number of puppies; however, AMH did not change over the course of a normal pregnancy. Sonography, the increase in CRP and complete blood count values may be beneficial for monitoring canine pregnancy. More studies are necessary to prove these findings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The use and interest in veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine are increasing and modes of treatment are diverse. To this point, only a few data on the German situation in small animal medicine exist., Material and Methods: An online research of 1,083 German veterinary homepages for contents of veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine was performed in September and October 2017. "Veterinarian" and "Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons" were used as search items. Homepages of small animal medicine were included. They were surveyed for modes of complementary and naturopathic treatments and corresponding qualifications of the offering veterinarian. Data were collected and processed using Excel 2013 Version 15.0. Afterward, a descriptive data analysis was performed., Results: 60.7% (n = 657) of homepages showed contents of veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine. The highest percentage was found in the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of Saarland (91.7%, n = 11 out of 12). Homeopathy was cited most frequently (58%, n = 381). Out of all homepages with relevant content, 31.4% (n = 206) gave information about user qualifications, with continuous education programs named most frequently (52.9%, n = 109)., Conclusion: The given data illustrate the high number of German veterinary homepages with contents of veterinary naturopathy and complementary medicine, corresponding to actual data of a high usage in veterinary and human medicine. Therefore, further scientific research in this field seems reasonable. Modes of treatment and qualifications are highly diverse and despite of controversial public discussions, homeopathy was the most frequently cited treatment modality on German veterinary homepages., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Neospora caninum represents an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite of the family Sarcocystidae causing severe reproductive disorders in cattle, small ruminants, wild animals and canids worldwide. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were recently described as effective host defense mechanism of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) derived from cattle, dogs, goats and dolphins against N. caninum tachyzoites. Nonetheless, nothing is known so far on canine colostral PMN immune reactions against N. caninum although breeding bitches represent a susceptible dog cohort and infected bitches may spread tachyzoites through transplacental transmission to their offspring. Thus, isolated colostrum PMN from bitches were assessed for PMN phagocytic activities as well as NETs release against viable N. caninum tachyzoites. In vitro interactions of canine colostrum-derived PMN with tachyzoites were analyzed at different ratios and time spans. Extracellular chromatin staining was applied in order to unveil classical molecules of NETs, such as neutrophil elastase (NE), global histones (H1, H2A/H2B, H3, H4) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), via antibody-based immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. N. caninum tachyzoites induced canine NETs in colostral PMN and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed NETs formation by colostral PMN thereby ensnaring tachyzoites after exposure. In summary, NETs released from canine colostral PMN might represent an early and effective maternal defense mechanism of the definitive host helping neonates to reduce initial intracellular replication of not only parasites but of other invasive pathogens after colostrum consumption., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: The mortality rate of perinatal calves is high, particularly in dystocia cases. Besides detectable conditions such as trauma or amniotic fluid aspiration, the potential salience of cardiological diseases in neonatal bovine deaths has received little attention. This study aimed to compare the electrocardiographic parameters of calves born under conditions of dystocia and eutocia., Materials and Methods: Electrocardiographic, clinical, and laboratory diagnostic examinations were performed during the first 5 days of life on 40 calves. Of them, 20 calves were born under conditions of dystocia and 20 of eutocia., Results: Electrocardiograms (ECGs) did not show detectable arrhythmias in all calves. Both groups exhibited tachycardia on their first ECGs. The QT and ST interval durations developed differently over time in both groups, suggesting that these may be related to conditions of birth., Conclusion: The electrocardiographic differences between calves born of dystocia and eutocia could be a factor in the increased mortality rate of calves born of dystocia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Nowak, et al.)

Due to the time-limited intestinal uptake of colostral immunoglobulins, the suggested treatment of hypogammaglobulinemia in new-born foals is usually plasma transfusion. The aims of this study were twofold: firstly, to investigate the course of serum IgG concentration after plasma transfusion in newborn foals; and secondly, to determine the amount of transfusion required for a significant increase in serum IgG concentration. For this purpose, the IgG concentration was measured in 23 foals at three different points in time: before transfusion, 1 hour after transfusion, and 24 hours after transfusion. There was an increase in IgG concentration in the blood of 18 foals (78.3%). In five foals (21.7%), no increase in serum IgG concentration were detected after plasma transfusion. Transfusion of 1 mg IgG caused an average increase in IgG level of 0.03 mg/dl (0.001-0.268 mg/dl) 1 hour after transfusion. After 24 hours, the same amount of IgG caused a larger increase of 0.05 mg/dl (0.002-0.537 mg/dl). None of the foals demonstrated adverse reactions to the plasma transfusion. These values provide a guidance how much IgG is needed to increase serum IgG concentration to a desired level. However, this study has shown that there is a high variability in serum IgG concentration after plasma transfusion. Which highlights the necessity for monitoring IgG concentration following transfusion., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: As Germany's wolf population is steadily becoming more widespread, conflicts with livestock owners are increasing. In this context, the wolves' impact on grazing livestock is of particular interest. The study aimed to investigate the wolves' influence on the husbandry of endangered sheep and goat breeds. Thus, livestock owners were interviewed about the types of measures taken to protect their herds against wolf predation., Material and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 11 questions was published online by the "Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen e. V. (GEH)" and completed anonymously by 494 sheep and goat owners from all over Germany., Results: 33 % of the endangered sheep breeds and 80 % of the endangered goat breeds are owned by fewer than ten of the livestock owners, who predominantly keep these animals as a hobby or as a supplementary source of income. The cessation of livestock husbandry by any of these owners may therefore have a significant negative impact on the continued existence of the breed in question. However, the mean herd sizes of the studbook breeds do not indicate any negative impact on animal numbers in recent years, although the majority of respondents consider their grazing livestock to be threatened by wolves. It is noteworthy that significantly more livestock owners situated far away from wolf habitats expressed the wish to discontinue their husbandry as opposed to those within range of wolf habitats. Preventative measures mentioned most frequently are fencing and enclosures as well as avoiding certain areas entirely. The use of guard dogs does not seem to play a major role., Conclusions: The abandonment of animal husbandry by individual farmers poses the risk of reducing breed diversity in small ruminants. Therefore, they need special protection, which must be taken into account when planning and defining compensation measures., Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Successful translation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies into clinical reality relies on adequate cell production procedures. These should be available not only for human MSC, but also for MSC from animal species relevant to preclinical research and veterinary medicine. The cell culture medium supplementation is one of the critical aspects in MSC production. Therefore, we previously established a scalable protocol for the production of buffy-coat based equine platelet lysate (ePL). This ePL proved to be a suitable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for equine adipose-derived (AD-) MSC culture so far, as it supported AD-MSC proliferation and basic characteristics. The aim of the current study was to further analyze the functional properties of equine AD-MSC cultured with the same ePL, focusing on cell fitness, genetic stability and pro-angiogenic potency. All experiments were performed with AD-MSC from n = 5 horses, which were cultured either in medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 10% ePL or 2.5% ePL. AD-MSC cultured with 2.5% ePL, which previously showed decreased proliferation potential, displayed higher apoptosis but lower senescence levels as compared to 10% ePL medium ( p < 0.05). Non-clonal chromosomal aberrations occurred in 8% of equine AD-MSC cultivated with FBS and only in 4.8% of equine AD-MSC cultivated with 10% ePL. Clonal aberrations in the AD-MSC were neither observed in FBS nor in 10% ePL medium. Analysis of AD-MSC and endothelial cells in an indirect co-culture revealed that the ePL supported the pro-angiogenic effects of AD-MSC. In the 10% ePL group, more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) was released and highest VEGF-A concentrations were reached in the presence of ePL and co-cultured cells ( p < 0.05). Correspondingly, AD-MSC expressed the VEGF receptor-2 at higher levels in the presence of ePL ( p < 0.05). Finally, AD-MSC and 10% ePL together promoted the growth of endothelial cells and induced the formation of vessel-like structures in two of the samples. These data further substantiate that buffy-coat-based ePL is a valuable supplement for equine AD-MSC culture media. The ePL does not only support stable equine AD-MSC characteristics as demonstrated before, but it also enhances their functional properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hagen, Niebert, Brandt, Holland, Melzer, Wehrend and Burk.)

Objectives: As part of the "Model- und Demonstrationsvorhaben Tierschutz (MuD-Tierschutz)-project, supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), an animal owner survey was conducted to collect data on various aspects of keeping South American camelids (NWC). This publication covers the population structure of NWC in Germany., Material and Methods: 550 owners participated in the survey, of which 421 (76.5 %) completed the survey in full. The different sets of questions were evaluated using simple descriptive statistics., Results: The participating farms divided up into 365 (66.4 %) alpaca, 89 (16.2 %) llama and 93 (16.9 %) farms which kept both animal species. Three farms failed to provide any information on the animal species. A total of 7739 NWC were recorded, including 6295 alpacas and 1444 llamas. The most popular breeds are the Huacaya alpaca and the Classic llama. Mares represent the greatest part of both the alpaca and the llama population (53.8 % of the alpaca and 45.0 % of the llama population). The herd size amounted to a mean of 14.9 animals of which the majority are kept in a constant group (56.6 %). Most owners stated, that they had acquired their animals within the past decade (84.1 % of alpaca and 62.6 % of llama husbandries). The majority of NWC are found in south-west Germany; in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Wuerttemberg. These farms are typically hobby businesses (51.0 %), in most cases, the animals serve as hiking companions or their wool is processed (58.0 % and 52.3 %, respectively). 76.6 % of the animals possess an identification, most often by means of a microchip. 84.2 % of the farms stated, that they were registered at the local veterinary office., Conclusion: Based on the results of the present investigation, a significant increase in NWC husbandries and animal numbers is evident in recent years. The design of husbandry structures was evaluated by the present study, however, despite the existing registration obligation the exact number of the South American camelid population in Germany remains unknown. Systematic central recording under the supervision of an official body is therefore warranted., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass keine geschützten, beruflichen oder anderweitigen persönlichen Interessen an einem Produkt oder einer Firma bestehen, welche die in der vorliegenden Veröffentlichung genannten Inhalte oder Meinungen beeinflussen können., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany.)

The crucial role of colostrum for the neonatal immune system is well recognized. Following ingestion, proteins and especially immunoglobulins must pass the gastrointestinal tract and its proteolytic enzymes intact in order to be absorbed into the neonatal blood circulation. For this reason colostrum exhibits trypsin-inhibitor activity. This activity is not exerted by a single molecule but represents a general characteristic of the first colostrum. In artiodactyl species, high-level trypsin inhibition has been demonstrated along with a rapid decrease during the first days of lactation. In equine colostrum, trypsin-inhibitor activity has also been detected. Its importance is however controversially discussed in the literature due to the fact that the anti-trypsin activity is less pronounced in comparison to artiodactyl species and exhibits reduced stability in acidic environment. In the colostrum of carnivores, anti-trypsin activity has also been proven, this however is less prominent than in ungulates. The presented overview of the literature aims at summarizing the current understanding of trypsin inhibition in the colostrum of different species., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany.)

Objective: Udder thigh dermatitis (UTD) is especially common in heifers. Skin alterations and necrosis of muscle tissue characterise this condition and, although the disease is well understood, systematic analysis concerning prevalence, risk factors and consequences of UTD is lacking. The aim of this study, therefore were such systematic clinical examinations., Material and Methods: Statistical analyses of data were performed to objectively evaluate the supposed higher risk of heifers developing UTD. The study included a total of 317 animals that were examined and classified as UTD positive or negative on the day of calving. The size of skin alterations and the severity of tissue damage were assessed on days 7, 14 and 21 p. p., Results: The overall prevalence resulted in 18 % UTD with a higher risk in heifers (36.8 %) than in cows (4.3 %; P < 0.0001). A significant link was found between the size of tissue lesions and severity of UTD (day 7: P = 0.007; day 14: P = 0.002; day 21: P = 0.011). Peripartal udder oedemas were strongly associated with UTD (P < 0.05). The milk yield and the concentration of milk protein was found to have decreased., Conclusion: UTD appears to be a multi-factorial disease that is supposed to be painful due to the obvious avoidant behaviour in affected animals. In respect to the reduction in daily milk yield and an enhancement of pain related stress, neither the economic impact of UTD, nor the adverse effects on animal welfare should be underestimated., Clinical Relevance: Heifers with udder oedema are advised to be examined for the presence of UTD in order to start an early treatment and diminish disease related negative impacts., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany.)

The timely diagnosis of abnormalities in the passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins is important for the health and development of newborn foals. This study investigated three different methods for measuring immunoglobulin G concentration in neonatal foals. Comparison of a commercial SNAP assay, total protein concentration determination, and total globulin calculation by subtracting the albumin fraction from total protein as an indirect parameter was performed on a quantitative ELISA, which served as a reference method. The study included 119 samples from 148 foals between the age of 1 and 6 days. A blood concentration of 800 mg/dL was considered to indicate adequate absorption of immunoglobulins, and a concentration of less than 400 mg/dL was considered to be hypogammaglobulinemia. The sensitivity of the SNAP test was 64.5% and specificity was 94.7% for diagnosing sufficient absorption of immunoglobulin G at a value of 800 mg/dL. A value of 54 g/L was found to be most appropriate for the use of total protein and provided a sensitivity of 67.3% and specificity of 84.2%. For total globulins, the most appropriate value was 27 g/L, which yielded a sensitivity of 74.5% and specificity of 81.6%. At values under 400 mg/dL, the sensitivity of the SNAP test was 89.4% and the specificity was 83.0%. Here, the most suitable value for the total protein was 51 g/L. This provides a sensitivity of 65.2% and a specificity of 76.8%. The most suitable concentration for the use of total globulin was determined to be 24 g/L, which provided a sensitivity of 75.8% and a specificity of 78.1%. The study and its results show that the SNAP test, the TP, and the TP-A method perform similarly well compared to the ELISA in determining IgG concentration of ≥800 mg/dL. Based on the 95% confidence intervals, however, the Snap test and the TP-A method appear to perform similarly well but better than the TP approach for IgG concentrations <400 mg/dL., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)