[Case report: photosensitization followed by chronic exungulation in cattle].

Isolated cases of photosensitization in grazing cattle are observed in a greenland district of North West Germany close to the North Sea. With adequate treatment the disease usually takes a benign course. Sometimes, however, also the claws are involved in the disease process with the consequence that the photodermatitis later on is followed by chronic exungulation.

[Pathophysiological significance of steatorrhea as well as of hydroxystearic acids in the feces of calves with diarrhea].

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to determine the digestibility of milk lipids in calves with diarrhoea, the pathophysiological effects of fat intake on the course of the disease and the conversion of malabsorbed longchain fatty acids to secretory effective hydroxy fatty acids by the intestinal flora.

Animals: 32 male calves of the breed "Deutsches Fleckvieh" with spontaneous occurring diarrhoea, age 3-14 days. Reference group: 6 clinically healthy calves of the same age group.

[Enzootic calcinosis in sheep after consumption of golden oat grass (Trisetum flavescens L., P. B.)].

In 12 sheep (Coburger Fuchsschaf; 10 female, 1 male, 1 wether), grazing on a pasture with approximately 20 (to 40)% golden oat grass and fed the respective hay, clinical findings and outcome of Trisetum flavescens induced calcinosis were controlled for 2 1/2 years. Besides lameness typical for calcinosis (slightly bent carpus and relatively stretched position of tarsal and fetlock joints when standing, 'kneeling' on the carpi) the patients showed increasing impairment of the circulatory and respiratory systems (holosystolic endocardial murmur, congestion, exspiratory dyspnoea etc.).

[Bile acid concentrations in serum, bile and feces of healthy calves and calves with diarrhea].

On 32 calves (age 3 to 14 days) with spontaneously occurring diarrhoea, the following investigations were carried out: Regular examination of serum bile acid concentrations, collection of the entire faeces with determination of bile acid concentrations, as well as microbiological examinations. Six clinically healthy calves served as control group. In addition, bile acids in bile were determined in 16 other calves of the same age group and in 6 beef bulls.

[Cecal intussusception in calves].

Among the patients admitted to the II. Medical Animal Clinic of the University of Munich from 1986 through 1994, there were 51 calves at an age of up to three months with intussusceptions in the caecal region. The following forms were observed: caecocaecal (n = 12), caecocolic (n = 22), ileocaecocolic (n = 6), ileocaecal (n = 8), and jejunoileocolic (n = 3).

[Abomasal ulcers in calves: clinical investigations and experiences].

Observations and experiences as well as results of clinical investigations in 364 calves with clinically apparent abomasal ulcers (bleeding 28, deep 37, perforating 299) are communicated. The anamnestic data, evaluated systematically, allow to conclude, that influences of the feeding regime, in particular faults during the early weaning period, play an important role in the multifactorial etiology. Furthermore, symptoms, diagnosis and differential diagnosis as well as treatment and prevention are described.

Evaluation of liver function tests in neonatal calves.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of tests for hepatic disease in young calves.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Animals: 28 clinically normal calves and 47 calves with histologically proven hepatic disease.

[Bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy ("Weaver syndrome") in brown Swiss x Braunvieh cattle: reproductive occurrences, results of embryo transfer].

In the time between 1989 and 1991 seven Brown Swiss heifers, which had clinical signs of the Weaver syndrome were kept at the Bavarian Institute of Animal Breeding in Grub. This was in order to investigate this hereditary trait further. The number of animals carrying this genetic defect was increased by means of embryo transfer.

A new quick-test for semiquantitative determination of beta-hydroxybutyric acid in bovine milk.

A new test strip for semiquantitative determination of beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) in bovine milk has been tested in experimental investigations in three lactating cows. After intraruminal administration of butyric acid, the following parameters were determined during 7 hours: milk concentrations of BHB (quantitatively and semiquantitatively) and acetone (quantitatively), BHB concentration in blood and urine (quantitatively), acetone + acetic acid concentration in urine (semiquantitatively). The new quick-test proved to be highly sensitive and even subclinical or physiological levels of BHB in milk could be determined.

Spinal dysmyelination in new-born brown Swiss x Braunvieh calves.

In four new-born Braunvieh calves suffering from connate recumbency and body tremor, a hitherto not described myelination disorder of the spinal cord was examined. Bilateral symmetric hypo- as well as demyelination in several spinal tracts were the most conspicuous findings, affecting the ascending gracile funiculus, the ascending dorsolateral spinocerebellar tract, and the mainly descending sulcomarginal tract. Deficient myelin production, loss of myelin, consecutive axonal degenerations, and prominent astrogliosis within these tracts were the histological hallmarks of the disease.

[Spinal muscle atrophy in Brown Swiss x Braunvieh cross calves].

The report describes seven SMA-cases in descendents of crossbreeds of American Brown Swiss x Deutsches Braunvieh. Symptoms and course: After initially normal development of the calves for one to six weeks the disease set in suddenly followed by a rapid lethal course of one to one and a half weeks duration due to asphyxia and/or secondary diseases. Only one case was reported having been sick since birth (?).

[Preparatory feeding of the dry stage cow in regard to nutritional condition and the status of the rumen mucosa and rumen flora at calving].

Excessive fat deposition prior to calving and a negative energy balance post partum predispose the high producing cow for an intensive postpartal lipolysis and for the health problems resulting thereof. It was postulated that a well proliferated ruminal mucosa at the beginning of lactation could improve the energy supply by stabilizing the pH of the rumen content with energy rich feed and by providing a high absorption capacity for volatile fatty acids. Results of earlier experiments dealing with this problem are reviewed.

[Enzootic otitis in a herd of calves].

Following an outbreak of enzootic bronchopneumonia, 15 out of 19 calves of one herd were affected by uni- or bilateral otitis media. The animals (aged four days to nine weeks) were housed in individual boxes. Type and distribution of concurrent diseases as well as the symptoms indicative of otitis are listed in two tables; two other tables give the results of the bacteriological examinations of aural and nasal swabs taken before and during treatment.

[Field studies of the effect of sperm motility and morphology on the fertility of boars used for insemination].

Based on 2127 first services in a field trial, the influence of sperm motility and morphology on the fertility of ten AI boars was investigated using semen stored for three and five days. Depending on sperm morphology the farrowing rate differed by up to 31% and the litter size differed by up to 3.4 piglets.

[Uterine perforation following an experiment in the correction of a uterine torsion in the 5th month of pregnancy. Illustrated report].

In this case report a perforation of the uterus in a German Black Pied cow after correction of the uterine torsion in the 5th month of gestation is described. Because of the hopeless prognosis, the cow was slaughtered. An additional finding was a metaplastic keratinization of the chorionic epithelium in the form of a plaque.

[Rapid diagnosis of botulism in cattle using heated microcomplement fixation reactions].

Clostridium botulinum toxin, type C, could be demonstrated by means of temperature induced microcomplement fixation in blood serum and in aspirated rumen fluid of cattle suffering from botulism. The results were already available after seven hours. Botulinum toxin likewise could be identified from hair of a suspicious carcass.

[Infection-limited disease factors in cattle].

The following infectious diseases of cattle can be included in the group of the so-called infectious 'factors disease': certain respiratory diseases, in particular enzootic bronchopneumonia (EBP, 'shipping fever'), trichophytia, some parasitic skin diseases and internal parasitoses, certain types of calf enteritis, special forms of mastitis and of genital infections and possibly others. As is discussed in the paper EBP is a typical multifactorial infectious disease in cattle. The role of Pasteurella spp.

[Dysfunction of the esophageal groove ("ruminal drinking") as a complication of neonatal diarrhea in the calf].

It is well documented that the induction of the oesophageal groove reflex in the milk fed calf depends on certain prerequisites: The fluid drunk by the calf must come into contact with the receptors located in the pharynx, it must be consumed voluntarily by the animal without undue disturbances, it should have no offensive smell or taste and the general status of the calf should not be disturbed. When those conditions are not met the oesophageal groove closes incompletely or not at all and the milk flows into the reticulo-rumen. If the milk or any other nutrient solution remains there for a sufficient period of time, the nutrients it contains are subjected to bacterial breakdown.

[Ruminal acidosis complex--new observations and experiences (2). A review].

By "Rumen acidosis" until recently only the acute indigestion with intoxication caused by excessive production of lactic acid was understood. Meanwhile, however, it has become evident that further pathologic changes can take place in the acid-base status of the rumen contents which may also be referred to as "Rumen acidosis". Basing on new literature and own experiences the paper gives a review of that "Rumen acidosis complex": Fundamentals of the regulation of pH in the rumen; chronic latent rumen acidosis (hyper- and parakeratosis, chronic hyperplastic rumenitis, rumenitis-liver abscess complex, hyperlipodeposition, low milk fat syndrome, atypical ketosis, chronic laminitis, cerebrocortical necrosis, acid-base metabolism); acute lactic acidosis (etiology, pathogenesis, therapy, prophylaxis).

[The rumen acidosis complex--recent knowledge and experiences (1). A review].

By "Rumen acidosis" until recently only the acute indigestion with intoxication caused by excessive production of lactic acid was understood. Meanwhile, however, it has become evident that further pathologic changes can take place in the acid-base status of the rumen contents which may also be referred to as "Rumen acidosis". Basing on new literature and own experiences the paper gives a review of that "Rumen acidosis complex": Fundamentals of the regulation of pH in the rumen; chronic latent rumen acidosis (hyper-and parakeratosis, chronic hyperplastic rumenitis, rumenitis-liver abscess complex, hyperlipodeposition, low milk fat syndrome, atypical ketosis, chronic laminitis, cerebrocortical necrosis, acid-base metabolism); acute lactic acidosis (etiology, pathogenesis, therapy, prophylaxis).