Oral and Poster Abstracts

group showed higher serum lactate concentrations than the control
group.
Conclusions: The blood pH evolution suggests that their values were
influenced by both the addition of malate and the diet fed in each stage
(growing or finishing). In fact, supplemented animals showed more
stables values than controls whose values fluctuated, and our data show
that malate addition did not give any beneficial response in comparison
with controls in relation to blood buffer bases (HCO 3- and BE). The
observed fluctuations in blood pCO 2 did not allow us to establish a
clear trend and, finally, in the present study serum L-lactate remained
consistently higher in malate-supplemented animals than in controls,
indicating that the effects of malate might be dependent on the
characteristics of the diet.
Key words: malate, acid-base, calves, productive parameters
1023 Treatment of Systemic Acidosis in Calves by Administration
of Sodium Bicarbonate with Stomach Tube
D. Zimmermann, R. Mansfeld
University of Munich, Clinic for Ruminants, Munich, Germany
Objectives of study: The objective of this study was to investigate to
what extend it is possible to treat metabolic acidosis in diarrheic calves
by intraruminal administration of sodium bicarbonate and if the pH of
the ruminal fluid influences the resorption of the buffer.
Materials and Methods: 32 calves up to 4 weeks of age with
metabolic acidosis caused by diarrhea (base excess: -3 mmol/l to -15
mmol/l) were divided into 2 groups on the basis of their ruminal
fluid pH. The 21 calves in the first group showed an acidemia
without a rumen acidosis, the 11 calves in the second group showed
both acidemia and rumen acidosis. All calves were completely
rehydrated with a standard infusion solution before the application
of the buffer. Thereafter, 50 g sodium bicarbonate dissolved in 500
ml of water was given to all calves using a stomach tube. Blood
samples were regularly taken. Blood gas values, hematocrit, D- and
L-lactate, electrolytes, the pH of the ruminal fluid and the pH of the
urine and its specific weight were determined. At three measurement
times the degree of dehydration, respiration and state of health were
examined and valued by a score system.
Results: After oral administration of sodium bicarbonate 56.7% of the
treated calves were cured permanently. This study showed no influence
of the ruminal fluid pH on the resorption of sodium bicarbonate in the
rumen. The less a calf was drinking after therapy of acidosis, the more
probable it was that it relapsed and got an acidosis again. Obvious
adverse effects of the intraruminal sodium bicarbonate administration
did not occur in this study.
Conclusions: 50 g of sodium bicarbonate seems to be an adequate
dosis for the compensation of a low or medium metabolic acidosis.
Nevertheless symptoms of overdosage or underdosage must be
cautiously observed. If the calf is not able to compensate water
balance, electrolyte balance and energy balance by sufficient
independent intake of fluid and particularly milk, infusion therapy is
strongly suggested.
Key words: calf, acid-base balance, acidosis therapy, buffer, pH of the
ruminal fluid
1024 High Incidence of Icterus, Neurological Symptoms and
Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis in Newborn Calves in a Dairy
Farm in the Czech Republic
M. Skoric 1 , P. Fictum 1 , P. Fleischer 2 , O. Langova 2
1 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Pathological Morphology, Brno,
Czech Republic
2 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Ruminant Diseases, Brno, Czech
Republic
We recorded increased incidence of liver disease in newborn calves
in a farm with 400 Siemental cows. These cows were fed silaged
milled grains of barley and maize of low quality (mouldy maize)
from autumn 2006. Poor quality clover haylage should not have been
used for feeding, however, it partially was. There was some increase
in the somatic cell count in milk and increased occurrence of
mastitis. At the end of the year one third of calves (fed by natural
milk) diseased, mostly at the age of 10 days, and 50% of them died
within next 5 days. Remarkable clinical signs were lethargy,
238 XXV. Jubilee World Buiatrics Congress 2008
inappetence, eventually mild diarrhoea, seizures of convulsions, and
after several days icterus (but without fever). The main biochemical
changes in the blood of 12 calves were extremely high levels of total
bilirubin (21-344; x=111 µmol/l) and AST (3.9-33.8; x=15.0 µkat/l).
Further findings (lower levels of Ig, total protein, GMT and vitamin
A) showed in one half of the calves having problems with colostrum
nutrition, in spite of good technology. In case of inappetence the
milk was administred by esophageal feeder (till 3-4 days). This
procedure probably led to rumen acidosis. One shortly hospitalized
calf had metabolic acidosis, which was caused by severe rumen
acidosis (pH 4.37). Two animals were subjected to necropsy, in
another case only liver was examined. We observed pathological
changes in liver, which were represented by mild hyperaemia and
structure of liver parenchyma on the cut surface resembling nutmeg.
Histopathological examination of liver from all three calves showed
the presence of small islets of hepatocytes separated from each other
by fibrous tissue with presence of proliferating and abnormally
branching bile ducts. The hepatocytes showed signs of vacuolar
degeneration, foci of focal coagulative and haemorrhagic necrosis,
cholestasis and hyperaemia were present in parenchyma. There was
round cell, predominantly lymphocytic, infiltrate in the proliferating
fibrous tissue. We detected marked microscopical lesions morphologically
corresponding with congenital hepatic fibrosis in examinated
calves. Examinations for leptospirosis, listeriosis, selenium
overdosing and nutritional muscle dystrophy were negative. The
cause of the disease could be chronic intoxication of cows by
substances diffusing to the fetus and into the milk, e.g. aflatoxins or
products of protein degradation.
Supported by the grant MSM6215712403
Key words: cattle, intoxication, liver, necropsy.
1025 Prophylactic Measures and Epidemiology of New born Calf
Diseases in Korea
IS. Ryu 1 , YJ. Do 2 UH. Kim 1 , TY. Hur 2 , SJ. Kang 2 , CY. Choi 2 ,
YH. Jung 2 , DS. Son 2 , JS. Ko 2 , HR. Han 3
1
National Institute of Animal Science, Technology Application
Division, Suwon, Korea, South
2
National Institute of Animal Science, Animal Resources
Development, Cheonan, Korea, South
3
Seoul National University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul,
Korea, South
To set up prophylactic measures for new born calf diseases, we
analyzed the incident rate and the causes using 1118 new born
calves of 23 farms by epidemiology investigation. As investigation
results of the cases of diseases in 597 new born calves, the cases of
diarrhea, pneumonia and septicemia were 318, 49 and 19 cases
respectively and then diarrhea and broncheitic pneumonia 3
cases, downer cow was 2 cases and weakness, dermatitis and
indigestion was a case. In the species, 153 cases were in 229
newborn calves of Han-woo and 204 cases were in 376 newborn
calves of Holstein. Therefore the incidence in Holstein was 2times
of in Han-woo. As a result of the analysis of death causes in 85
newborn calves, diarrhea, septicemia, pneumonia, BVD, weakness,
hoove and arthritis were 23, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3 and 1 respectively and
Akabane disease, indigestion and downer cow were respectively 2.
As the incidence in Han-woo, below 20kg was 25%, 21~25kg was
7.9%, 26~30kg was 4.3%, above 31kg was 0%. As a result of blood
and feces analysis, E. coli 9, Rota virosis 7, Coccidiosis 6,
Salmonellosis 6, E. coli Coccidiosis 3, E. coli and Rota virosis 3,
Coccidiosis and Clostridium 3, Clostridium 2, enterotoxemia 1 and
etc. To prevent WCS (Weak calf syndrome) in pregnant cow,
6(29%) calves died after Vitamin A, D, E (Vigantol-E ® , Bayer) 5ml
IM, on the other hand 15 (71%) calves died before that time. As a
result of the blood chemistry analysis, Ca, Mg, CRE, GGT, GOT,
TP, BUN, GLU and CHO were in normal range, and ALB, LDH,
PHO, TBI and TRI were in over range. In these results, death causes
of new born calves in domestic cow in Korea were mainly diarrhea
and respiratory disease by bacteria and virus. So it is thought that
Vigantol-E ® injection before parturition and application
vaccination program about diarrhea and respiratory disease can be
help to prevent disease of new born calves and WCS.
Key words: calf, WCS
1026 Serum and Acute Phase Proteins in Calves with Respiratory
Syndrome