Oral and Poster Abstracts

University of Nottingham, Animal Health and Welfare, Nottingham,
United Kingdom
In this presentation the author would like to stimulate thoughts
regarding the choice of performing a caesarean or fetotomy when
dealing with a dead foetus during bovine parturition. A review of the
literature present on this topic will be summarized to show scientific
evidence on which decision-making in particular situations can be
based. What is known about the prognosis of an animal after either
procedure, do we know how each procedure influences future
performance? The current situation suggests that veterinarians steer
away from performing fetotomies and prefer to perform a caesarean,
for a variety of reasons. However, anecdotal evidence suggests these
reasons may not necessarily be based on correct clinical evaluation
of the situation but on experience of the veterinarian or use of
adequate equipment. With veterinarians becoming more specialised
within their profession the question is raised whether it is important
for bovine veterinarians to be thoroughly trained to perform both
procedures adequately. Advantages and disadvantages for both
techniques will be presented and experiences from the public will be
sought to stimulate discussion.
Key words: obstetrics, Caesarean section, fetotomy, dystocia, foetus
372 Comparison of the Changes in Intrauterine Pressure after
Treatment with Various Prostaglandins in Early Postpartum
Cows
Á. Bajcsy 1 , O. Szenci 1 , G. Van der Weijden 2 , A. Doornenbal 2 ,
J. Bartyik 3 , F. Rezazadeh 1 , K. Szabó-Ari 1 , M. Taverne 2
1 Szent István University Faculty of Veterinary Science, Clinic for
Large Animals, Üll[, Hungary
2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Department of
Farm Animal Health, Utrecht, The Netherlands
3 Enying Agricultural Ltd., Kiscséripuszta, Hungary
Our previous study in postpartum (pp.) cows without retained
placenta showed that a single treatment with either oxytocin or
carbetocin (administered between 14h and 16h pp.) significantly
increased both contraction frequency (FREQ) and total area under
the curve (TAUC) during the 1 st post-treatment hour, with a return to
initial levels during the 3 rd hour (2006,Theriogenology 65: 486-498).
Because F series prostaglandins are known to stimulate uterine
contractility in non-pregnant cycling cows, the present study was
performed to quantify possible uterotonic effects of therapeutical
(=luteolytic) doses of natural PGF 2a and two synthetic analogues of
PGF 2a in early pp. cows.
Thirty nine pluriparous Holstein-Friesian cows were included in a farm
study. All cows had expelled their fetal membranes within 12h after
uncomplicated calving. They were randomly attributed to 1 of 4 treatment
groups (all treatments given as a single im. injection between 14h and 17h
pp.): Group 1 (n=10): 25mg natural PGF 2a (Enzaprost ® ); Group 2 (n=9):
500 µg cloprostenol (Estrumate ® ); Group 3 (n=10): 150 µg Dcloprostenol
(Genestran ® ); Group 4 (n=10): 5ml saline solution. For
recording intrauterine pressure (IUP), an open tip catheter was
transcervically introduced into the previously pregnant uterine horn prior
to treatment and was fixed to a caruncle. The acquired signals were
digitalized (at 4Hz) and analyzed, using a graphical programming
software (Labview 5.0). The IUP characteristics during each of the first
4h, and the 12th and 24th h after treatment were evaluated among the
groups, using RM MANOVA.
The treatments did not significantly affect any of the following IUP
parameters: FREQ, amplitude (AMP), area under the curve (AUC) and
TAUC. However, duration (DUR) slightly differed among groups
(P