Individual housing of dairy calves prevails in Europe and North America despite its negative effects on calf development. One of the main reasons is that farmers find individual housing of calves more practical than group housing. A compromise between practice and welfare could be housing calves in pairs. Therefore, we aimed to compare health, feed intake, growth, and behavior in a novel arena of 22 individually (INDI) and 44 pair-housed calves that were randomly assigned a treatment. Diarrhea and respiratory problems were recorded every day for the period of 49 d. Intake of calf starter and milk were measured every day for the period 48 and 49 d, respectively. Calf body weight gains were calculated as average daily gain. Calves were individually tested in a novel arena at 11 to 18 d, and their behavior was recorded according to an ethogram including 8 behavioral categories. Behavioral categories were first diminished by principal component (PC) analysis. We found that 2 PC explained 66% of the total variation in calf behavior. Movement-related behaviors (activity, play, and crossing the stair) loaded positively on PC1, and PC2 had positive loading on self-grooming and negative loading on exploration. There were no effects of housing on calf health, feed intake, or average daily gain. The INDI calves had higher PC1 scores than pair-housed calves, indicating a rebound effect of movement. Our results are consistent with other studies that found no negative effect of pair housing of calves on their health, feed intake, or growth compared with individually-housed calves. The rebound effect of movement-related behaviors of INDI calves in a novel arena implies that individual housing of calves causes activity deprivation by the second week of age.

• Klíčová slova
• calf behavior, calf health, calf performance, individual versus pair housing,
• MeSH
• bydlení zvířat * MeSH
• dieta veterinární   MeSH
• krmivo pro zvířata * analýza   MeSH
• mléko MeSH
• odstavení MeSH
• přijímání potravy MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie veterinární MeSH

Calf muscle pump is the motive force enhancing return of venous blood from the lower extremity to the heart. It causes displacement of venous blood in both vertical and horizontal directions, generates ambulatory pressure gradient between thigh and lower leg veins, and bidirectional streaming within calf perforators. Ambulatory pressure gradient triggers venous reflux in incompetent veins, which induces ambulatory venous hypertension in the lower leg and foot. Bidirectional flow in calf perforators enables quick pressure equalization between deep and superficial veins of the lower leg; the outward (into the superficial veins) oriented component of the bidirectional flow taking place during calf muscle contraction is no pathological reflux but a physiological centripetal flow streaming via great saphenous vein into the femoral vein. Calf perforators are communicating channels between both systems making them conjoined vessels; they are not involved in the generation of pathological hemodynamic situations, nor do they cause ambulatory venous hypertension. The real cause why recurrences develop has not as yet been cleared. Pressure gradient arising during calf pump activity between the femoral vein and the saphenous remnant after abolition of saphenous reflux triggers biophysical and biochemical events, which might induce recurrence. Thus, abolition of saphenous reflux removes the hemodynamic disturbance, but at the same time it generates precondition for reflux recurrence and for the comeback of the previous pathological situation; this chain of events has been called hemodynamic paradox.

• Klíčová slova
• calf perforators, hemodynamic paradox, venous hemodynamics, venous hypertension,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is one of the major cattle diseases causing economic losses worldwide. Nowadays the disease manifests mainly as virus-induced immunosuppression and early embryonic death, impacting overall herd performance and contributing to increased antibiotic usage in calf rearing. METHODS: In our study we investigated the effect of rapid BVDV control measures on calf diseases and antimicrobial usage after weaning on a large industrial dairy farm. Persistently infected (PI) animals were identified and removed from the herd within a short period of time, and all susceptible animals were vaccinated against BVDV. Recorded herd parameters and AB usage were monitored retrospectively and compared with data collected after starting the BVD control program. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The programme began in January 2023 with identifying and eliminating PI animals from the farm. Twenty-one PI animals were found by using RT-qPCR testing of blood sera out of the 1571 animals tested (1.33%). Subsequent testing (January and December 2023) identified further 28 PI animals amongst the 542 calves tested shortly after birth, and all were instantly removed from the farm. In parallel with the BVDV eradication measures, AB usage dropped by more than 50% compared to previous years. Calf mortality also decreased from 7.45 to 4.38% as the control program progressed. Correspondingly, both the number of respiratory and diarrhoea cases decreased dramatically on the farm while the eradication measures were in place. CONCLUSION: Our study clearly demonstrated the positive effects of BVDV eradication on the improvement of calf health and importantly, a reduction of AB usage, contributing to the One Health perspective of farm animal production.

• Klíčová slova
• Antibiotic usage, BVDV, Calf mortality, Dairy cattle,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The pathophysiology of calf perforators is presented. Bidirectional flow within calf perforators with a prevailing inward, into deep veins oriented component arises during calf pump activity in varicose vein patients, as evidenced by venous pressure measurements, plethysmographic findings, duplex ultrasonography, and electromagnetic flow measurements. Reflux within calf perforators is an inward, not outward, flow; the opinion that the outward flow within calf perforators is a reflux is at odds with the reality. During calf muscle contraction, the pressure in the posterior tibial vein is higher than in the great saphenous vein; it induces the harmless outward flow within calf perforators, which runs further via great saphenous vein in the physiological direction toward the heart. Deep and superficial veins of the lower leg form conjoined vessels, as documented by nearly equal pressure curves registered simultaneously in the posterior tibial and great saphenous veins both in varicose vein patients and in healthy people. Calf perforators do not entail ambulatory venous hypertension or any other hemodynamic disorder, even if enlarged and incompetent; their ligation is needless. The diameter of calf perforators is influenced by the intensity of saphenous reflux; it enlarges with increasing intensity of saphenous reflux and diminishes after the abolition of reflux.

• Klíčová slova
• Incompetent calf perforators, ambulatory venous hypertension, saphenous reflux,
• MeSH
• krevní tlak * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• varixy patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• vena saphena patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

It is important to describe weaknesses in rearing calves not only to improve their welfare, but also to detect areas where current scientific knowledge is poorly integrated into practice. A survey of preweaning calf-rearing practices was conducted using a farmer questionnaire. The survey included 136 farms, representing 11.9% of all dairy cows in the Czech Republic. Mean herd size (± standard deviation) was 326 ± 131.4 cows, and mean milk production 7,413 ± 1,389.5 kg per cow per year. We evaluated 59 farms with Holsteins (H) and 77 with the Czech Fleckvieh breed (C). The survey revealed that (1) calving in group pens predominated (67.6% of farms); (2) no disinfection of calf navels occurred on 11.8% of herds; (3) pooled colostrum was fed on 15.4% of farms; (4) colostrum quality was controlled on only 44.1% of farms, and only 73.5% of farms had reserve colostrum stocks; (5) nonmarket waste milk was fed in 64.7% of herds but it was pasteurized in only in 6.8% of herds and acidified in 35.2% of herds; (6) milk replacer was mixed with nonmarket waste milk on 52.9% of farms; (7) 58.8% of farms enabled calves to obtain milk by sucking and 41.2% by drinking from a bucket; (8) the main criterion in weaning was calf age (61.7%), followed by acceptance of starter and concentrated feed (19.9%) and lack of housing capacity (18.4%); and (9) newborn calves were individually housed on 96.7% of farms and group-housed on 3.3% of farms. The most marked differences in calf-rearing management between Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh farms were (1) a higher proportion of operations calving in tie-stalls or stanchions in C (6.5%) versus H (1.7%) farms; (2) a higher proportion of untreated navels on C (15.6%) versus H (6.8%) farms; (3) a lower proportion of C (11.7%) versus H (20.4%) farms feeding pooled colostrum; (4) a lower proportion of C (39%) versus H (50.9%) farms monitoring colostrum quality; (5) sucking milk from nipple buckets predominated (61%) on C farms, whereas drinking from an open bucket was most common (64.4%) on H farms; (6) age was the main criterion in weaning calves of both breeds (C farms: 55.8%, H farms: 69.5%), whereas the second most important criterion was lack of housing capacity (28.6% of farms) on C farms and the amount of consumed starter (25.4%) on H farms. We observed a difference in duration of colostrum period between C herds (median 5d) and H herds (median 4d). A tendency was observed for age of calves at weaning (C herds: median at 9.1 wk, H herds: median at 10 wk).

• Klíčová slova
• calf, farm management, rearing, welfare,
• MeSH
• mlékárenství metody   MeSH
• odstavení MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• skot genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• skot genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

A three-step procedure to enrich estradiol receptor protein from calf uterus nearly 30,000-fold has been described. Over-all yield is 12%. Control of the single steps has been performed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis, sucrose density gradient centrifugation, gel filtration and determination of receptor quantity. Immunological properties of the preparation obtained have not been controlled.

• MeSH
• centrifugace - gradient hustoty MeSH
• chemická precipitace MeSH
• chromatografie afinitní MeSH
• elektroforéza v polyakrylamidovém gelu MeSH
• gelová chromatografie MeSH
• receptory estradiolu analýza   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• síran amonný MeSH
• skot MeSH
• uterus chemie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• receptory estradiolu MeSH
• síran amonný MeSH

Plausible calf-thymus DNA molecular weight distribution can be obtained by size-exclusion chromatography with dual low-angle light scattering/refractometric detection at sufficiently low flow rate. The distribution extends over three decades of molecular weight and is characterized by weight average molecular weight M(w) = 8418000 and polydispersity index M(w)/M(n) = 5.2. After strongly scattering impurities had been removed from the sample using adsorption properties of the 3 mum mixed-cellulose-ester filter membranes, static light-scattering measurement in flow injection mode was feasible and gave M(w) = 8580000, corroborating the veracity of SEC results.

• MeSH
• DNA analýza   chemie   MeSH
• gelová chromatografie * metody   MeSH
• molekulová hmotnost MeSH
• radiační rozptyl MeSH
• skot MeSH
• světlo * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• calf thymus DNA MeSH Prohlížeč
• DNA MeSH

AIM: To evaluate a method of texture analysis (TA) for the description of magnetic resonance (MR) images of healthy and diseased calf muscles and to compare this method with standard radiological evaluation. METHODS: A total of 93 subjects (20 controls, seven healthy children of hypertonic parents, five diabetic patients and 61 subjects with muscle malfunction of various origin) underwent MR imaging of the calf muscle and texture analysis of images was performed. The results of TA were analysed by t-statistics and principal component analysis. Images of subjects were divided into four groups according to the assessment of three radiologists and this categorization of subjects was compared with the results from TA. RESULTS: We extracted seven features (from a total number of 282) which were successfully used for the description of the texture of T1w MR images of calf muscles. The results of classification by TA are in 80% agreement with the categorization made by the radiologists. In some cases, TA is able to describe changes not apparent by visual inspection. CONCLUSION: The TA of MR images of calf muscles can be used for the objective description of changes in muscles and could help radiologists to distinguish between healthy and diseased tissue.

• MeSH
• agar chemie   MeSH
• analýza rozptylu MeSH
• bérec patologie   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• diabetes mellitus patologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu metody   MeSH
• polystyreny chemie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• skot MeSH
• statistika jako téma metody   MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• svalová atrofie patologie   MeSH
• svalová hypertonie patologie   MeSH
• svaly patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• agar MeSH
• polystyreny MeSH

The zinc sulphate turbidity test was used to establish the total immunoglobulin levels of calves from birth to 4 months of age. Colostral immunity fell rapidly and the lowest levels were found in the third and fourth week of life. During the fifth week there was a significant increase. 25% of animals were hypogammaglobulinaemic in the first week of life. This ratio increased to 50% in the third week of life. At the age of two months the lowest immunoglobulin levels almost vanished. These findings are discussed as basic information for the appropriate management of calf agglomerations. Animals should be agglomerated only after the first months of life. When this is not possible, the pens for large agglomerations should have individual housing for the newly admitted calves. The importance of appropriate epizootological measures to reduce infections are pointed out.

• MeSH
• gama-globuliny analýza   MeSH
• imunoglobuliny analýza   MeSH
• kolostrum imunologie   MeSH
• nahuštění v prostoru * MeSH
• novorozená zvířata MeSH
• skot fyziologie   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• gama-globuliny MeSH
• imunoglobuliny MeSH

Here, we report a case of neonatal calf meningitis due to Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (SGG). Clinical, pathological and microbiological findings were evaluated. API Strep, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, rpoB gene sequencing and sodA gene sequencing were used for the complete identification of SGG. This is the first documented report of neonatal calf meningitis due to SGG in veterinary medicine.

• MeSH
• bakteriologické techniky veterinární   MeSH
• meningitida mikrobiologie   patologie   patofyziologie   veterinární   MeSH
• mozkomíšní mok cytologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• nemoci skotu mikrobiologie   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• novorozená zvířata MeSH
• skot MeSH
• Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH