Assessment of differences in some indicators of pain in double muscled Belgian Blue cows following naturally calving vs caesarean section.

This article describes a study of the behaviour of double muscled Belgian Blue (BB) cows during the peri partum period to assess the differences in pain perception in cows calving per vaginam vs cows delivering by caesarean section (CS). In one herd, a total of 30 multiparous cows, of which 17 delivered by CS and 13 calved per vaginam, were closely observed at approximately 1 month before calving and at days 1, 3 and 14 after parturition. The main behavioural indicators of pain were alertness, transition in posture from standing to lying and vice versa, aggressive behaviour, vocalization, rumination quality, reaction on wound and vulva pressure and the percentage of visible eye-white. The main significant differences were lower overall activity and more transition in posture in animals that delivered by CS than in cows that calved naturally. Less time was spent on eating and ruminating in the CS group, their total resting time was longer and their total standing time was shorter. These significant differences were only observed on the first day after calving. Cows of the CS group reacted significantly more when pressure was put on the left flank on the first, third and fourteenth day after calving, whereas animals that calved per vaginam showed more reaction when pressure was put on the area around the vulva, but only on the first day. Based on the results of the present study, we can conclude that there are some significant short-term behavioural differences between BB cows that calve naturally and those that deliver by CS, but in general, the differences are subtle and of short duration.

Paternally inherited markers in bovine hybrid populations.

The genetic integrity of crossfertile bovine- or cattle-like species may be endangered by species hybridization. Previously, amplified fragment length polymorphism, satellite fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite assays have been used to analyze the species composition of nuclear DNA in taurine cattle, zebu, banteng and bison populations, while mitochondrial DNA reveals the origin of the maternal lineages. Here, we describe species-specific markers of the paternally transmitted Y-chromosome for the direct detection of male-mediated introgression. Convenient PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and competitive PCR assays are shown to differentiate the Y-chromosomes of taurine cattle, American bison and European bison, and to detect the banteng origin of Indonesian Madura and Bali cattle bulls.

Application of urinary and fecal steroid measurements for monitoring ovarian function and pregnancy in the bonobo (Pan paniscus) and evaluation of perineal swelling patterns in relation to endocrine events.

Estrone conjugates (E1C), pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG), and estriol (E3) in urine, and immunoreactive E1C, E3, pregnanediol (Pd), and progesterone (P4) in feces were determined along with records of perineal sex skin swelling throughout 7 nonconception cycles and 3 full-term pregnancies of 4 adult female bonobos (Pan paniscus). A typical preovulatory urinary E1C surge and postovulatory increase in urinary PdG were seen during the menstrual cycles. Fecal progestin levels were significantly correlated with those of PdG in urine in all cycles, while E1C measurements in feces were significantly correlated with those in urine in only 3 cycles. On the basis of hormone profiles, a variable follicular phase of 17-40 days and a relatively constant luteal phase of 11-15 days was found, resulting in cycle lengths of 31-51 days. All urinary and fecal hormones were markedly elevated during pregnancy. Measurement of E1C in both urine and feces was most useful for early pregnancy diagnosis, while E3 was of value in confirming pregnancy and assessing fetal viability. The period of perineal swelling during the cycle comprised on average 66.3% of cycle length, half of which was associated with a phase of maximum tumescence. Ovulation usually occurred within the maximum swelling phase, but timing of ovulation within this period was highly variable and was more closely associated with the end rather than the onset of maximum tumescence. The data presented here are of great practical value in the captive breeding management of bonobos and offer new opportunities for investigating basic questions of bonobo reproductive biology both in captivity and in the wild.