Performance and health status in preweaning semi-indoor holstein calves wearing calf jackets during winter months.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether jacket wearing by semi-indoor Holstein calves affected performance, body measurements and health status in the preweaning period throughout the winter months. A total of one hundred calves were allocated into two treatment groups (control and jacket) in terms of their weights and sex. The calves throughout the study period were raised at individual calf hutches in a semi-open barn. All calves and the consumed concentrate intakes were weighed every 28 days to determine body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), total and daily feed consumption (TFC, DFC). Incidence rate (IR) ratios were calculated from the records of daily health assessments. Calves in treatment group were jacketed from first to 45 days of age. The weaning process started gradually at 56 days of age and the calves were weaned on day 63. No significant effects of wearing jackets in terms of body measurements and performance. The respiratory diseases IR was 1.15 times higher in calves without jackets, which means that calf health was positively affected by wearing jackets. The improved health status of the treatment group showed that wearing jackets may protect calves from adverse effects of cold stress. There is a need for more comprehensive studies about the effect of calf jackets in early periods of preweaning, especially in calves in outdoor hutches.

Changes in serum total protein and immunoglobulin G concentrations and Brix percentages in neonatal Arabian foals from birth up to 21 days of age.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum total protein (STP) concentrations and serum Brix percentages of neonatal Arabian foals during first 3 weeks of life. Blood samples were collected from 12 apparently healthy foals by jugular venipuncture at birth and at 12-hours, 24-hours, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 21 days of age. Serum IgG and STP concentrations and Brix percentages were measured by the radial immunodiffusion assay, and digital STP and Brix refractometers, respectively. Based on the serum IgG concentrations measured at 24 h, two foals were diagnosed with failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI). While IgG concentrations were determined using the data of foals with adequate transfer of passive immunity, other calculations were made using the data of all foals. The mean IgG concentration of the foals increased from birth (<200 mg/dl) to 12 (2068.5 mg/dl) and 24 h (2184.7 mg/dl), and progressively decreased up to 21 days of age (1318.5 mg/dl). The serum IgG concentrations at 12 h were highly correlated with each of the IgG concentrations measured over the 21-day period. The serum IgG and STP concentrations and Brix percentages of the foals diagnosed with FTPI at 12 h did not reach the adequate strata over time. These results suggest that foals can be reliably tested for passive immunity status at 12 h after birth.

Comparison of slaughter and carcass characteristics of Limousin, Charolais, Angus, and Hereford beef cattle in Turkey.

The slaughter and carcass features of four breeds named Limousin (LI), Charolais (CH), Angus (AN), and Hereford (HE) were examined. Nine calves from each breed were slaughtered at an average age of 18.5 months. The animals were weighed before slaughter, and the slaughter weights as well as some body measurements of the animals were recorded. The dismemberment of the carcasses was performed after a resting period of 24 h at + 4 °C. The slaughter weights were 581.89, 590.72, 577.67, and 610.89 kg, respectively. Chilled carcass weights were 348.26, 346.91, 327.60, and 338.10 kg, respectively, with no significant differences among breeds. Dressing percentages were 59.89, 58.75, 56.71, and 55.33%, and the valuable meat ratios were 27.89, 27.66, 24.45, and 24.32%, respectively. Carcass bone ratios were 13.89, 14.17, 14.64, and 14.61%, respectively. The longissimus muscle areas (LMA) were 97.46, 102.29, 81.05, and 83.93 cm2, and the subcutaneous fat thickness was 0.38, 0.43, 1.00, and 1.32 cm, respectively. Significant differences were observed among breeds in terms of these characteristics. Carcass weight was highest in LI, and LI and CH breeds had higher carcass yields than the other two breeds. Although HE had the highest slaughter weight, it showed the lowest carcass yield. Whilst more meat was obtained from LI and CH, the highest fat and bone ratios were determined in HE and AN.

Evaluation of refractometry methods for estimating passive immunity status in neonatal foals.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the accuracy of the digital Brix and serum total protein (TP) refractometers for estimating different passive immunity status in neonatal foals. In total, 18- to 40-h old purebred Arabian foals (n = 185) were used. Serum TP concentrations, total solid percentages and IgG concentrations were measured with a digital serum TP refractometer, digital Brix refractometer and the gold standard radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay, respectively. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the refractometer and RID assay results. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to select the optimal cut-offs for both refractometers. Test performance and agreement were evaluated using diagnostic test characteristics at optimal thresholds and areas under the ROC curve, and by calculating Cohen's kappa coefficient. The sensitivity and specificity of the digital Brix refractometer at optimal cut-offs (≤7.8%, ≤7.9%, ≤8.2%, ≤8.3%, ≤9.0%) were 100 and 69.3%; 100% and 68.5%; 70.5% and 71.0%; 88.3% and 85.5%; 88.1% and 76% to estimate RID-IgG of <400 mg/dL, <800 mg/dL, <1500 mg/dL, <2500 mg/dL and < 3000 mg/dL, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the digital serum TP refractometer at optimal cut-off (≤4.6 g/dL, ≤4.6 g/dL, ≤4.8 g/dL, ≤5.0 g/dL, ≤5.4 g/dL) were 100 and 69.3%; 100% and 72.8%; 90% and 72.8%; 72.9% and 83.9%; 84.4% and 88% to estimate RID-IgG of <400 mg/dL, <800 mg/dL, <1500 mg/dL, <2500 mg/dL and < 3000 mg/dL, respectively. In conclusion, the refractometers showed a good potential as screening tools for the estimation of different IgG concentrations in neonatal foals.