The influence of transfer gun passage time through the uterine cervix on pregnancy rate in recipient heifers.

The influence of passage time of the transfer gun through the uterine cervix and body to the embryo insertion site on pregnancy rate was analysed in 248 recipient heifers (mean age: 15-17 months). Embryos (90 fresh and/or 88 and 70 frozen in glycerol and ethylene glycol, respectively, grades 4 and 5, stage 1 or 2) were transferred to the ipsilateral uterine horn on day 7. Two different transfer guns were used in this experiment: a sterilisable steel transfer instrument to be used without sheaths with a removable tip made of gold-plated stainless steel (Wörrlein Minitüb) or a transfer stylet with sheaths with a metal tip and a side opening (Cassou gun, IMV Technologies). The time of passage of the instruments through the uterine cervix and body to the site of embryo deposition in the uterine horn was measured in the study. In order to randomise the risk of errors, all manipulations were carried out by the same experienced operator. The average time needed for the insertion of embryos into the uterus was 50.6 seconds (s) and it was longer for the transfer gun with sheaths than for the metal-tipped transfer gun (60.1 and 40.8 s, respectively) (P < 0.001). The average conception rate was 45.6%. If the time needed to insert embryos into the uterus was 10-60 s, the conception rate was 53.4% (up to 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 s - 57.7, 52.5, 50, 51.5 and 50%, respectively). In contrast, if the time needed to insert the embryo in the uterine horn was longer than 60 s, the conception rate was 20.4% (61-80, 80.1-120 and > 120 s - 28.0, 6.0 and 24.9%, respectively). Thus, it cannot be excluded that the type of the applied transfer gun may influence pregnancy rate in recipient cows due to its effect on cervical passage time.

Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia - correlation between clinical symptoms, hematological parameters and lifespan.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the hematological parameters and clinical symptoms between Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia (BNP) diseased calves dying before and after 14 days of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical observations included 47 calves from dams which underwent a 3-year vaccination program with the inactivated PregSure® BVD vaccine. In 25 of these 47 BNP affected calves blood examinations were performed and in 22 dead calves diagnosis was mainly based on post-mortem findings. RESULTS: Cutaneous bleeding was the predominant clinical manifestation in 32 from 47 calves (68.1%). Seven from 47 calves (14.9%) developed cutaneous bleeding as the only symptom and 17 from 47 calves (36.2%) demonstrated these alterations in combination with hemorrhagic lesions of the oral mucosa. In 66.0% (31/47) of calves petechiae of the oral mucosa were seen and petechiation without any other BNP related symptoms occurred in eight from 47 calves (17.0%). The hematological analysis revealed thrombocytopenia in all 25 cases (n = 23: PLT < 60 x 109/l, n = 2: PLT 139-164 x 109/l). Nineteen from 25 calves (76.0%) developed thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia (WBC < 3.5 x 109/l). In nine of them a decrease of erythrocyte count (RBC < 4.5 x 109/l), hemoglobin concentration (Hb < 8 g/dl) and packed cell volume (PCV < 24%) was measured. Three BNP affected calves without clinical symptoms were identified by hematological examination. The average life time of BNP affected calves was 14.7 ± 6.2 days. Clinical findings, especially multifocal cutaneous hemorrhages were more frequently recognized in calves living longer than 14 days. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: At the time of falling ill with BNP, older calves displayed more numerous symptoms, especially bleeding in the skin. Thrombocytopenia and erythropenia occur as well as a decreased hemoglobin concentration and a low PCV. The time between outbreak of symptoms and death of calves which fell ill later, did not differ from the survival time of BNP calves, which displayed symptoms at a younger age. A decrease of thrombocytes was the cardinal laboratory finding.