Administration of carbetocin-a long-acting oxytocin analogue-before sperm collection by transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands in bucks (Capra hircus) and ibexes (Capra pyrenaica).

Transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is a technique that allows collecting semen requiring few electrical stimuli or even no pulse. A long-acting analogue of oxytocin (carbetocin, 0.1 mg) was i.v. administered before TUMASG in 10 conscious bucks (Experiment 1) and 10 anaesthetized Iberian ibexes (Experiment 2) to shorten the time of semen collection, decrease the number of electrical stimuli and/or improve the semen quality. The ejaculated volume, concentration, quality parameters and kinetics variables of the sperm were determined in fresh semen. The time length of the procedures and the number of electric pulses applied were recorded. Furthermore, stress response indicators (number of vocalizations in Experiment 1; heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, cortisol levels, totals proteins and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in Experiment 2) were documented. In bucks, the administration of carbetocin tended to shorten the time needed for semen collection but no-showed differences in the fresh seminal quality. In the Iberian ibexes, there were no significant differences between groups in the time length of procedures or in the number of animals that ejaculated. Carbetocin administration only reduced the respiratory rate, did it modify fresh semen characteristics in ibexes. In conclusion, the administration of carbetocin did not appear as a useful tool to improve welfare during semen collection with TUMASG or semen quality in conscious bucks and anaesthetized ibexes, having only slight advantages related to the procedure.

Técnica de massagem relaxante como ferramenta para melhorar a relação humano-animal e os parâmetros de bem-estar animal / The relaxing massage technique as a new tool to improve the human/animal relationship and the animal welfare parameters

O manejo aversivo de espécies de produção pode ter graves consequências na produtividade, reprodução e bem-estar animal, sendo necessários estudos que visam um bom relacionamento humano-animal (RHA), por meio do toque suave, como uma tentativa de tornar este manejo mais benéfico para seres humanos e animais. Nesse sentido, a massagem feita com as mãos constitui uma nova proposta para melhorar o RHA envolvendo ruminantes domésticos. Sendo assim, os objetivos desta revisão são: (1) compreender a importância de um bom relacionamento entre humanos e ruminantes, incluindo a interação com toque; (2) descrever o impacto da massagem sobre diversos parâmetros relacionados à fisiologia, aos estados emocionais e aos comportamentais em humanos e animais; e (3) propor o uso da técnica Stroking em ruminantes domésticos, como forma de incentivar produtores e tratadores a utilizarem a massagem como um método alternativo para melhorar o RHA. Sabe-se que diferentes estudos e protocolos mostraram a importância do toque na promoção de um bom RHA, além dos diversos impactos da massage. Ainda, ao observar que cabras massageadas com a técnica Stroking apresentaram comportamentos positivos, como lambidas na massagista, constata-se que o incentivo ao estudo da modulação de outros parâmetros, como fisiológicos, zootécnicos e psicológicos, em ruminantes domésticos massageados, é necessário. Assim, a aplicação da massagem relaxante, como uma nova ferramenta para a melhora da interação humano-animal envolvendo ruminantes domésticos, é uma proposta que visa criar uma maior proximidade com os animais, possivelmente influenciando a forma como produtores e cuidadores percebem esses seres sencientes.

The aversive management of farmed species may present serious consequences on productivity, reproduction, and animal welfare. Thus, studies that aim at a good human-animal relationship (HAR) and apply gentle touch, as an attempt to make this management more beneficial for humans and animals are required. In this sense, massage with bare hands is a new proposal to improve HAR with domestic ruminants. Therefore, the objectives of this review are: (1) understand the importance of a good relationship between humans and domestic ruminants, including the interaction of touch; (2) describe the impact of massage on various parameters related to physiology and emotional and behavioral states in humans and animals, and (3) propose the use of the Stroking technique (relaxing massage) in domestic ruminants as a mean to encourage producers and caretakers to use massage as an alternative method to improve HAR. Different studies and protocols have shown the importance of touch in promoting a good HAR, in addition to the various impacts of massage on humans and animals. By demonstrating that goats massaged with the Stroking technique showed positive behaviors like licking the masseur, the importance of encouraging the study of the modulation of other topics such as physiological, zootechnical, and psychological parameters in massaged domestic ruminants is highlighted. Thus, the application of relaxing massage, Stroking, as a new tool for improving human-animal interaction with domestic ruminants is a proposal that aims to create a closer relationship with animals, possibly influencing the way producers and caregivers perceive these sentient beings.

Using transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands for buck semen collection yields semen with greater cryoresistance than electroejaculation alone during the breeding season.

The cryoresistance of bucks' semen collected by transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) and electroejaculation (EE) was compared during the breeding season (Study 1) or the late non-breeding season (Study 2). Semen was collected from 10 Gabon bucks with both methods in each season and then frozen according to a standardized protocol. The time required for ejaculation, the number of electrical pulses applied, the sum of the electrical pulses applied∗voltage and the total number of vocalizations emitted during the collection by each animal were recorded. In Study 1, TUMASG required a longer time (P = 0.0006) but fewer electrical pulses and a lower sum of pulses∗voltage than EE (P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). Bucks vocalized fewer times during TUMASG than during EE (P < 0001). Semen collected with TUMASG had greater sperm concentration, sperm mass motility, total number of motile sperm and of sperm with progressive motility, and tended to have greater total number of sperm with functional membrane than semen collected with EE (P = 0.02; P = 0.003; P = 0.02; P = 0.02; P = 0.06, respectively). After the freezing-thawing process, sperm collected with TUMASG had a greater quality of the motility, a total number of motile sperm and sperm with progressive motility, a greater percentage of motile sperm and sperm with functional membrane, and tended to have a greater total number of sperm with normal morphology than semen collected with EE (P = 0.04; P = 0.04; P = 0.03; P = 0.02; P = 0.04; P = 0.06, respectively). In Study 1 sperm collected with TUMASG had greater cryoresistance for almost all the variables considered than when it was collected with EE. In Study 2, the number of electrical pulses and the sum of pulses∗voltage were greater with EE than with TUMASG (P < 0001; P = 0.0002, respectively). There were no differences in any sperm variable in fresh or thawed samples collected with TUMASG or EE. However, the other seminal characteristics evaluated did not differ according to the method, and there were no differences in the cryoresistance of any variable. Overall, TUMASG affected animal welfare less than EE and was suitable for collecting semen of good quality with high cryoresistance during the breeding season in buck.

Impact of massage on goats on the human-animal relationship and parameters linked to physiological response / Impacto da massagem em cabras na relação homem-animal e parâmetros relacionados à resposta fisiológica

Considering the benefits that massage can promote, this research aimed to apply the stroking massage in five adult goats (G1-G5) assessed in group and individually for ten days. Parameters related to massage, immune system, physiology and behavior of goats were observed. There was only significant difference (P 0.05) regarding behavior expressed in the presence of the masseur in G4 and G5, between week 1 and 2. Most goats accepted massage, except G2, with greater demonstrations of positive than negative behavior towards the masseur. Therefore, stroking massage promoted positive interactions between the masseur and goats, and should be explored as an alternative method to those existing in improving the relationship between humans and farm animals.(AU)

Considerando os benefícios que a massagem pode promover, este trabalho teve como objetivo aplicar a massagem do tipo stroking em cinco cabras adultas (G1-G5) avaliadas em grupo e individualmente por dez dias. Parâmetros relacionados à massagem, sistema imunológico, fisiologia e comportamento das cabras foram observados. Houve apenas diferença significativa (P 0,05) em relação ao comportamento expresso na presença da massagista em G4 e G5, entre as semanas 1 e 2. A maioria das cabras aceitou a massagem, exceto G2, com maiores demonstrações de comportamentos positivos do que negativos direcionados à massagista. Portanto, a massagem do tipo stroking promoveu interações positivas entre a massagista e as cabras, devendo ser explorada como um método alternativo aos existentes na melhora da relação entre seres humanos e animais de produção.(AU)

Immediate physical therapy in dogs with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament submitted to extracapsular surgical stabilization / Fisioterapia imediata em cães com ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial submetidos à estabilização extracapsular

The study evaluated the influence of immediate physical therapy on the functional recovery of hind limbs of dogs with experimental cranial cruciate ligament rupture which underwent surgical extracapsular stabilization as well as to verify its interference in joint stability. Eight dogs were randomly divided into two groups: GI (control) (n=4) and GII (physical therapy) (n=4). The dogs in GII underwent the following therapeutic treatments in the postoperative period: cryotherapy, passive joint movement, massage, passive straightening, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy (bath and aquatic mat) and therapeutic exercises. We performed evaluations of the thigh circumference, goniometry, X-ray, and knee stability (drawer test). Results did not demonstrate a significant difference between the groups nor between different post-operative times. Regarding gait analysis, we found that the 4 dogs in GI remained in degree 3 of lameness 45 and 90 days postoperatively. However, in GII, one dog remained in degree 3 45 and 90 days after surgery; one dog changed from degree 3 to 4 90 days after surgery and the other 2 dogs changed from degree 3 to 5 90 days after surgery. It is possible to conclude that dogs with CCL rupture that undergo immediate physical therapy demonstrate better results in regards to functional gait recovery. The therapeutic modalities used in the immediate post-operative period did not cause instability of the operated knee. Further studies are needed with a larger number of dogs to indicate the immediate physical therapy in dogs with CCL ligament rupture which underwent extracapsular stabilization.(AU)

Avaliou-se a influência da fisioterapia imediata na recuperação funcional do membro pélvico de cães com ruptura experimental do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCC) submetidos à estabilização cirúrgica extracapsular e verificou-se sua interferência na estabilidade articular. Foram utilizados oito cães distribuídos, aleatoriamente, em GI ou controle (n=4) e GII ou fisioterapia (n=4). Nos cães do GII, as modalidades terapêuticas empregadas no pós-operatório foram crioterapia, movimentação passiva da articulação, massagem, alongamento passivo, estimulação elétrica neuromuscular, hidroterapia (ducha e esteira aquática) e exercícios terapêuticos. Foram realizadas avaliações da circunferência da coxa, goniometria, radiografias e estabilidade do joelho (teste de gaveta) e os resultados não demonstraram diferença significativa entre os grupos e nos diferentes tempos de pós-operatório. Na análise da marcha, aos 45 dias, todos os cães do GI e do GII apresentaram grau 3 de claudicação. Aos 90 dias, quatros cães do GI permaneceram em grau 3 e no GII, um cão em grau 3, um em grau 4 e dois em grau 5. Conclui-se que cães com ruptura de LCC submetidos à fisioterapia imediata demonstraram melhores resultados quanto à recuperação funcional da marcha e as modalidades terapêuticas empregadas no pós-operatório imediato não ocasionaram instabilidade do joelho operado. Novas pesquisas são necessárias com um maior número de cães para poder indicar a fisioterapia imediata em cães com ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial submetidos à estabilização cirúrgica extracapsular.(AU)