Veterinarija ir Zootechnika

The purpose of this review is to examine the scientific literature on the effects of heat stress on some physiological, productive and reproductive parameters in dairy cows. The article analyzes the scientific papers in which the influence of heat stress and its impact on some indicators is studied. As a result of the review, it became clear that heat stress has an impact on the studied indicators, but there are no clear criteria at which values of temperature-humidity index (THI) this effect is registered. The relationship between heat stress, productivity, successive lactation and physiological and reproductive parameters in dairy cows is still controversial. This poses a challenge, through research, to solve the problems in regards to high temperature and animal welfare and productivity for specific climatic conditions.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high temperatures on the behavior, comfort and thermoregulation energy consumption of cows at free-stall keeping in two barns. The first barn had the system of forced ventilation and air irrigation, and the second one had only fans. Barn parameters were (Length × Width × Height) 94 × 32.1 × 10.5 m. The research was conducted in central Ukraine (Kyiv region) during July 2021. The average daily ambient temperature during the study period was +26.4°C. In each of the barns, the groups of similar of non-pregnant and lactating animals (107 ± 14 days in milking) of Holstein breed were formed. Cows were fed the total mixed ration twice a day in both barns. Hours of air cooling elements operation in the barns were from 10.00 to 18.00. The use of fans in combination with irrigation systems during hot periods had a positive effect on the heat transfer of cows compared with the heat transfer of cows that were in the barn with fans. With this combination, the temperature of the skin and the resting place under the lying cow and energy consumption for heat production were 0.5°C and 0.8°C and 3.1 MJ lower. In addition, this combination of air cooling systems had a positive effect on the duration of lying down and eating food (32 and 16 minutes longer, respectively), and the indicators of standing time, physical activity and drinking were lower by 16, 21 and 6 minutes, respectively. Accordingly, the best values were the cow comfort index (CCI), stall use index (SUI) and cow feeding index (CFI) (4.78, 4.87 and 0.08). In terms of stall standing index (SSI), stall perching index (SPI) and cow drinking index (CDI), slightly higher rates were observed in the barn using fans only (3.72, 1.06 and 0.013).

This research was carried out to determine the effects of adding 0, 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg ginseng to the diets (T1, T2, T3 and T4) on growth performance and head development of goldfish. The trial was randomly divided into four groups, 30 goldfish in each group for 90 days. As a result of the research, it was determined that the addition of ginseng (60 and 120 mg/kg) to the diets (T3 and T4) significantly increased the specific growth rate, total live weight gains, head and body height of the fish compared with the fish fed with the control diet (T1) (P < 0.05) (P < 0.01). However, there was no positive effect on live weight gain, head height, and body height in fish fed the T2 diet. All ginseng feeds positively affected head widths, feed consumption, and feed efficiency of fish. On the other hand, in this study, the body lengths of the fish were not significantly affected by ginseng application. Especially because of the risk caused by the use of ginseng, it seems that 60 mg/kg ginseng can be used as an appropriate dose in goldfish.

An adult Green Java peafowl, from a private aviary, was presented for treatment at the Riphah Pet Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Physical examination of the bird revealed lethargy, gasping and head jerking but no other clinical signs. The bird died before any intervention. At necropsy, multiple off-white hard nodules were observed in the lungs and two off-white flat growths in abdominal air sacs. Systemic spread of the fungus to the liver causing hepatitis was also noticed. Kidneys were pale, yellow and atrophied but fungus hyphae or conidia could not be detected in kidneys. Microscopically, the lung nodules were typical granulomas consisting of Aspergillus spp. hyphae and necrosis in the centre surrounded by inflammatory cells, mainly heterophils and macrophages and rare multinucleated giant cells. From the literature search, it appears to be the first report of angioinvasive mycotic pneumonia in Green Java peafowl.

For the period between June 2020 and -March 2022, a total of 8 dairy cattle farms were surveyed in terms of the prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis. Four of them were located in Northern Bulgaria (Targovishte, Shumen and Dobrich districts) and another four in Southern Bulgaria (Stara Zagora, Plovdiv and Haskovo districts). In these target farms, a rapid mastitis screening test was initially performed to detect the presence of subclinical mastitis or samples with high somatic cell counts. A total of 312 milk samples were obtained from milk quarters who reacted with 3+ or 4+ to which 34 samples of inflammatory exudate from cows with clinical mastitis were added. During the microbiological investigation of the 346 samples, 272 of them (79.1%) were bacteriologically positive. Streptococcus spp., were isolated from 151 samples (55.5%). The second most common species was Staphylococcus spp., detected in 110 (40.4%) of the tested samples. In total, the Grampositive cocci finding exceeded 95% of the microbial species. The remaining 11 (4.0%) isolates belonged

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common heart diseases among cats. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of the missense A31P mutation of the MYBPC3 gene in the feline population and its dependence on breed and sex. During the study, 130 individuals were tested by PCR-RFLP method. The 242 bp PCR product was digested with AvaI restriction enzyme and the fragments were separated by electrophoresis in 2.5% agarose gel. Besides that, retrospective analysis was performed based on data from the veterinary clinic, collected in a three years period. The mutation (G/C genotype) was detected only in the Maine Coon breed. Data analysis showed that frequency of heterozygous genotype in the tested Main Coon population was 0.23, which is equal to 13.85% of all the studied feline population and 23.1% of the tested experimental (Maine Coon) group. Allele frequencies were calculated in the experimental group (Maine Coon), the control group (feline of other breeds) and for all tested individuals. In all groups, the most frequently repeated allele was G, and in the control group, it was the only detectable allele. Frequency of the C (mutated) allele was calculated for all individuals (0.07) and for experimental (Maine coon) (0.115) groups. Statistically significant Main Coon breed dependence on the mutation was assessed (P < 0.05). Information analyzed retrospectively showed that HCM was more often diagnosed for males (87%) than females.

The objective was to investigate the effect of administering an additional dose of a PGF2α analog concurrent with the second GnRH (GnRH2) and at artificial insemination in the Ovsynch protocol on ovulation (OR) and pregnancy rates (PR) in Holstein lactating cows. Multiparous clinically healthy cows (parity: 3–5 lactation and 50 ± 5 days in milk (DIM)) were randomly allocated to three groups: Ovsynch (n = 23): GnRH (Alarelin acetate, 25 μg)-7 days- PGF2α (d-cloprostenol, 500 μg)-2 days-GnRH-16 to 18 h-FTAI plus 5 mL normal saline; OvsynchPG9 (n = 17): as Ovsynch plus administering another dose of PGF2α concurrent with GnRH2; and OvsynchPG10 (n = 28): as Ovsynch plus administering another dose of PGF2α at insemination. The ovaries of all selected animals were scanned by transrectal ultrasonography on days 9, 10, and 11 after the initiation (day 0) of the Ovsynch protocol to record the incidence of ovulation. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by transrectal ultrasonography 50 ± 2 days after FTAI. The results showed that OR was greater in OvsynchPG9 (82.3%) than that in OvsynchPG10 (81.8%) or Ovsynch (81.2%), although the difference was not significant (P = 0.8205). In addition, PR/FTAI was greater in OvsynchPG9 (41.2%) than in Ovsynch (30.4%) and the difference was not significant (P = 0.8288). In conclusion, it was found that administering an additional dose of a PGF2α did not improve OR or PR in Ovsynch protocol in Holstein lactating cows.

Abstract. Our study was aimed to evaluate the effect of vitrification on canine sperm parameters using a coconut water extender with an addition of egg yolk as a cryoprotectant. Semen collection was done separately by manual stimulation from twelve healthy adult dogs. Only the second fraction of the ejaculate was used in this study, which was evaluated for volume, concentration, vitality, total and progressive motility, kinetic parameters and morphology. Semen was diluted with a coconut water extender (50% (v/v) coconut water, 25% (v/v) distilled water and 25% (v/v) 5% anhydrous monosodium citrate solution) with an addition of 20% (v/v) egg yolk and fructose at 1% until final concentration of 100  106 spermatozoa/mL. After equilibration at 5ºC for 60 minutes, semen was vitrified by the “direct dropping method” into liquid nitrogen in spheres with a volume of 30 μL. After a week of storage, the spheres were warmed as three of them were dropped into 0.5 mL of CaniPlus AI (Minitüb, Germany) at 42ºC for 2 minutes and evaluated about the same parameters. The results showed that vitrification produced a statistically lower percentage of vital sperms, normal morphology and total motility (P < 0.05), but progressive motility and most of velocity parameters (VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, ALH and BCF) did not differ (P > 0.05) compared to fresh semen samples. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that vitrification with a coconut water extender with an addition of 20% egg yolk as a cryoprotectant affects the quality of canine sperms, but may be useful as a successful alternative to conventional cryopreservation. Further research on the spermatozoa vitrification technique on enhancement in cooling and warming should be conducted and investigated.

The aim of this study was to make a new teat dip formula containing lactic acid and evaluate its stability and antibacterial activity by physico-chemical and microbiological tests. After selecting the concentrations of the thickener xanthan gum (0.67%) and lactic acid (6.3%), a teat dip solution was composed, which contains teat skin saving components: glycerol, sorbitol, oat and calendula extracts. According to the recipe, a teat dip solution of orange colour, homogeneous appearance, and a specific lactic acid smell was composed, the viscosity of which was 930–940 mPa*s., pH 2.7. Product physical, chemical properties and stability for 24 months were confirmed by realtime and accelerated stability studies. The teat dip solution remains homogenous, orange colour with a typical lactic acid smell, and did not become cloudy or flaky after 24 months following production. Viscosity reduction was determined after 6 months 33 mPa*s, i.e. it was 3.4%, while after 24 months, it was 12.7%. The measured pH value remains stable between 2.6 and 2.8 (P > 0.05). An antimicrobial