Large Calves Research Articles

Small for Gestational Age Calves: Part I-Concept and Definition, Contributing Prenatal Factors and Neonatal Body Morphometrics in Holstein Friesian Calves.

Low birth weight (BW) calves exhibit higher mortality rates, reduced body weights at parturition, lower first-lactation milk yields, and longer parturition to first insemination intervals. In human medicine, small for gestational age (SGA) births are associated with increased perinatal morbidity and long-term metabolic risks. This study aimed to define SGA in Holstein Friesian (HF) calves, evaluate their body measurements and proportions, and identify its prenatal risk factors. Four linear regression models were built with weight as a function for gestation length for bull and heifer calves born from nulli- or multiparous dams. Calves with a BW below the 10th percentile were classified as SGA. Differences in body measurements were analyzed using ANOVA, and logistic regression models identified prenatal risk factors to be born SGA. Gestation length, calf sex, and dam parity were crucial variables in defining SGA. SGA calves had significantly smaller body measurements (p < 0.001) and larger body proportions (p < 0.001) compared to average and large calves. For nulliparous dams, a higher 2nd trimester temperature-humidity index (p = 0.032) and older age at parturition (>26 months, p = 0.026) significantly increased the birth of SGA calves. For multiparous dams, both low (<5800 kg, p = 0.049) and high (6700-8600 kg, p = 0.027) milk yields during gestation lead to more SGA births, although very high-yielding dams (>8600 kg) did not birth more SGA calves. This study establishes SGA in HF calves, suggests SGA calves are asymmetrical with evidence of "brain sparing", and highlights the impact of prenatal factors on calf size at birth. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of being born SGA on growth, reproductive performance, and productivity.

Impact of reproductive traits on productive life in Iranian Holstein dairy cows.

Enhancing reproductive performance is a key strategy to mitigate involuntary culling rates, thereby extending productive life (PL) and ultimately improving profitability in dairy cattle herds. A piecewise Weibull proportional hazards model was used to investigate the effect of several important reproductive traits on PL in Holstein dairy cows. Data comprised 200,747 lactation records from 82,505 cows sired by 1952 bulls across 36 dairy herds. PL was defined as the number of days from the first calving to the last milk record or censoring. The statistical model accounted for the time-dependent fixed effects of changes in herd size, year-season, milk production, fat and protein contents, and the time-independent fixed effect of age at first calving. Herd-year and sire effects were also included as random effects. Reproductive traits include calving traits such as calving ease (CE), calf size (CZ), and calf survival (CS), as well as female fertility traits such as number of inseminations per conception (NI), days from calving to first service (CFS), days from first service to conception (FSC), and days open (DO). All reproductive traits had a significant effect on PL (p < 0.001). Each reproductive trait was analysed separately. The relative risk (RR) of being culled increased as the severity of calving difficulties increased in both primiparous and multiparous cows. Cows that calved small or large calves showed a higher risk of being culled compared with those that calved medium size calves. The increased RR of culling was observed only for primiparous cows that gave birth to dead calves. In addition, cows that required more NI, a longer CFS, FSC, and DO had shorter longevity. These insights can deepen our comprehension of the factors affecting PL and provide information for refining management and breeding strategies, which could lead to increased profitability and sustainability in Iranian dairy farming.

Analysis of physical traits, clinical parameters, and energy metabolism of invivo- and invitro-derived Flemish newborn calves during the first day of life.

Studies investigating physiological deviations from normality in newborn calves derived from invitro fertilization procedures remain important for the understanding of factors that reduce calf survival after birth. The aim of this study was to investigate parameters affecting health and welfare of newborn Flemish calves derived from invitro embryo production (IVP) in the first hours of life in comparison to invivo-derived calves. Physical traits of newborn calves and fetal membranes (FM) were recorded soon after birth. Newborn venous blood samples were collected at several time points within the first 24 h of life for analyses of energy substrates, electrolytes, blood gases, acid-base balance, blood chemistry, and haematology. A liver biopsy was taken within the first hour after birth for analysis of gene expression of key enzymes of the fructolytic and glycolytic pathways. Newborn IVP calves were heavier and larger at birth, which was associated with heavier FM. At several time points during the first 24 h of life, IVP-derived calves had altered rectal temperature, blood gases, electrolyte concentrations, blood parameters for liver, kidney and muscle function, and acid-base balance, plasma lipid metabolism, and hemogram parameters. The relative mRNA abundances for triokinase and lactate dehydrogenase-B were greater in IVP calves. In summary, IVP-derived newborn calves were at higher risk of clinical problems after birth, which was markedly greater in heavier and larger calves. Such animals take longer to adapt to extrauterine life and should receive a special attention during the immediate neonatal period.

Changes in Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Stable Isotope Ratios and Mercury Concentrations in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) during and after Lactation

The changes in the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), oxygen (δ18O), and mercury (Hg) concentrations in muscle and liver tissues during and after lactation were studied in killer whales stranded along the coast of Hokkaido, in the northern area of Japan (n = 16). Calf muscles displayed δ13C- and δ15N-enriched peaks and a δ18O-depleted peak during lactation. The δ13C- and δ15N-enriched peaks appear to reflect the extensive nursing of 13C- and 15N-enriched milk and the onset of weaning, whereas the δ18O-depleted peak may be attributable to the extensive nursing of 18O-depleted milk and the onset of weaning. The δ13C and δ15N values tended to gradually increase after the weaning, whereas the δ18O values tended to decrease. The δ13C and δ15N levels in calves were similar between liver and muscle samples, whereas those in mature animals were higher in liver than in muscle samples. The isotopic turnover rates of C and N may be similar between the liver and muscle tissues in calves, which are rapidly growing animals. The Hg concentrations in muscle tissues were slightly higher in small calves than in large calves, probably due to the Hg transfer across placenta. The Hg concentrations in liver and muscle samples increased with increasing body length, and those in two liver samples from mature animals exceeded the high-risk threshold for marine mammal health effects (82 μg/wet g).

Practical fetotomies

Dystocias can take on many forms and knowledge of when to perform a fetotomy vs a C-section can be a major headache sav­er. While there are places around the country where C-sections have been abandoned exclusively for performing a fetotomy and vice versa, my practice area has always been open to both procedures. This passage from the 1972 book Fetotomy in Large Animals by C J Bierschwal and CHW deBois sums it nicely:&#x0D; Fetotomy should not be considered a substitute for Cesarean section. Both have a place in veterinary practice, the choice of method in in­dividual cases being governed by the circumstances. After the finding of a dead fetus in the case of dystocia, the uppermost question should be “Which is the better solution with regard to the life of the dam?” The answer may not be the easier procedure or the one involving the least amount of effort. &#x0D; The advent of sexed semen and beef on dairy technologies have seemed to greatly reduce the volume of dystocias due to large calves. That generally leaves malpositioned calves, emphyse­matous calves and the occasional fetal monster. Discussion of all presentations of dystocia are beyond the scope of this paper. The techniques presented here are a foundation that the veteri­nary obstetrician should be familiar with in order to apply to fetal presentations not discussed here.

Sarcopenia and coexistent risk factors detected using the ‘Yubi-wakka’ (finger-ring) test in adults aged over 65 years in the public annual health check-up in Tama City, Tokyo: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo examine the positive rate of sarcopenia using the ‘Yubi-wakka’ (finger-ring) test and associated risk factors among adults aged 65 years and older.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingWe used the Yubi-wakka test, which has...

Maternal effects do not resolve the paradox of stasis in birth weight in a wild red deer populaton.

In natural populations, quantitative traits seldom show short-term evolution at the rate predicted by evolutionary models. Resolving this "paradox of stasis" is a key goal in evolutionary biology, as it directly challenges our capacity to predict evolutionary change. One particularly promising hypothesis to explain the lack of evolutionary responses in a key offspring trait, body weight, is that positive selection on juveniles is counterbalanced by selection against maternal investment in offspring growth, given that reproduction is costly for the mothers. Here, we used data from one of the longest individual-based studies of a wild mammal population to test this hypothesis. We first showed that despite positive directional selection on birth weight, and heritable variation for this trait, no genetic change has been observed for birth weight over the past 47 years in the study population. Contrarily to our expectation, we found no evidence of selection against maternal investment in birth weight-if anything, selection favors mothers that produce large calves. Accordingly, we show that genetic change in birth weight over the study period is actually lower than that predicted from models including selection on maternal performance; ultimately our analysis here only deepens rather than resolves the paradox ofstasis.

Ultrasonographic analysis of the calves for efficient botulinum toxin type A injection.

Large calves are considered unattractive. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), acting as a neurotoxin that reduces muscle contraction, is widely used in calf contouring. However, there lacks detailed anatomical data to guide clinical injection. This study aims to use ultrasonography to provide depth information of the calf muscles and determine the morphological types of the gastrocnemius muscle. Ultrasound scanning was performed at six sites on 40 Chinese adults. A real-time ultrasound scannerwas used to detect the depth of the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle. The thickness of the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle was measured. The depth from the skin to the surface, the middle, and the bottom of the gastrocnemius muscle was measured. The morphology of gastrocnemius muscle was classified into four different types under ultrasound according to the muscle bulge pattern. This study took ultrasonic measurements of Asian calves to guide accurate and effective BoNT-A injection in real clinical practice.

Diurnal increases in depths of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mother‐calf pods off West Maui, Hawaiʻi: A response to vessels?

AbstractStudies of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) habitat use in their Hawaiian breeding grounds have revealed that mother‐calf pairs favor shallow waters to avoid harassment from males. However, human activity in these same waters may exert an opposing force on habitat use. To investigate this hypothesis, instantaneous scan samples of whale and vessel distribution were collected from West Maui, Hawaiʻi. Theodolite position fixes were combined with GIS techniques to determine the depths and seabed terrain type occupied by 161 humpback whale pods containing a calf (calf pods) and 872 pods without a calf (noncalf pods). We found no significant diurnal trends for noncalf pods, but calf pods occupied progressively deeper water over the course of each day. There was no evidence that this shift was related to (1) a “spillover” resulting from high mother‐calf density in shallow water, (2) harassment by males occupying the same space as mother‐calf pairs, or (3) the presence of mainly older and larger calves. However, while diurnal trends of whale‐watching vessels largely mirrored those of mother‐calf pods, nonwhale‐watching vessels tended to remain in shallower waters throughout the day. These results suggest that nearshore vessels may negatively impact the natural preference of mother‐calf pairs for shallow waters.

Demographic consequences of harvesting: a case study from a small and isolated moose population

Harvesting can have a substantial impact on population dynamics and individual performance in wild populations. While the direct consequences of harvest on individual survival and population growth rate are often apparent, harvesting can also have indirect and more subtle demographic consequences. Disentangling these consequences, however, requires in-depth knowledge of individual life histories of both females and males in the population. Here, we summarise demographic research on a population where such data exist: the Vega moose population in northern Norway. In this population, vital rates vary considerably among both females and males, and harvesting increases this variation by generating positive covariation between reproductive performance and survival. The skewed age and sex structure, which is typical of many harvested populations, also has demographic consequences: it reduces the ratio of effective to total population size and influences variation in vital rates in males and females. The moose harvest at Vega is structured by age- and sex-specific quotas, but it is not intentionally selective regarding size or other phenotypic characteristics. Still, harvest selection for earlier birth rates and larger calves was apparent, likely due to habitat-performance relationships and habitat-specific harvest mortality. Together, the bulk of research on this population shows that harvesting impacts population demography through many different pathways, with some being more subtle than others. These complex pathways influence the demographic variance and affect stochastic processes such as population growth, genetic drift, and rates of evolutionary change, and they must therefore be acknowledged in management plans to achieve sustainable harvesting.

Manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris calf mortality in Florida: a retrospective review of pathology data from 2009-2017.

High maternal investment and extended inter-calving intervals in Florida manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris make calf survivorship critical to overall population growth. However, detailed patterns of causes of mortality in calves have not been reported and state agency statistics report portions of perinatal mortality based on body length rather than actual cause of death (COD). The objectives of this study were to categorize COD based on necropsy data and geographical location in Florida for 1209 manatee calf carcasses (<236 cm total length) examined between January 2009 and December 2017 and to describe factors contributing to calf mortality. Results indicated COD was attributed to natural causes (47%, n = 573), cold stress syndrome (38%, n = 457), watercraft injury (13%, n = 155), or other human-related causes (2%, n = 24). Natural causes were the leading COD for small calves <151 cm, with death due to stillbirth or dystocia most frequent (48%, n = 273/573). Enteric trematodiasis contributed to a large proportion of deaths from natural causes in large calves within the southwest region of Florida, with an increasing annual trend. Brevetoxicosis contributed substantially to natural causes within the southwest region exclusively and was commonly comorbid with enteric trematodiasis. Cold stress syndrome was the leading cause of death for large calves (151-235 cm), with the Atlantic region having the highest proportion of cases. Watercraft injury was a sustained threat to large calves, especially within the southwest region. This report provides details on specific health threats and patterns of mortality among manatee calves.

Effects of diet type on nutrient utilization and energy balance in drylot heifers1.

Feeding cattle in intensified settings allows cow-calf producers to decrease their reliance on grazed forage and utilize alternative feedstuffs. During times of intense management, diet type may alter energy utilization. Fourteen pregnant MARC III heifers (405 ± 44 kg BW) were used in a 180 d experiment to determine effects of diet type on nutrient and energy utilization. Heifers were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, a forage diet (FOR; 2.10 Mcal metabolizable energy [ME]/kg; 95.75% forage) or a concentrate diet (CONC; 2.94 Mcal ME/kg; 71% concentrate), and individually fed to meet maintenance energy requirements (0.135 Mcal ME/kg BW0.75). The CONC diet contained dry-rolled corn, corn stalks (10.16 cm grind size), soybean meal, corn silage (approximately 45% corn grain; stored in a plastic bag), dicalcium phosphate, urea, and a premix pellet; FOR contained alfalfa hay (harvested at mid-bloom), corn silage, dicalcium phosphate, and a premix pellet. Measurements of energy intake and digestibility were measured over a 4-d period on days 116, 172, and 235 of gestation. Using portable headbox calorimeters, measurements of O2, CO2, and CH4 gases were collected over a period of 24 h. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design with diet as fixed effect. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were greater for CONC than FOR (P < 0.01). Intake of gross energy (GE) and digestible energy (DE) were greater for FOR (P < 0.01), but by design, ME intake was not different between treatments (P = 0.26). Energy lost as methane (% of GE intake) was not different between treatments (P = 0.49). The ratio of ME to DE was greater for CONC (86.8 vs. 82.8; P = 0.01) than FOR. Heat production relative to ME was not different between treatments (P = 0.85). Maternal tissue energy did not differ and was 1.2 Mcal/d for CONC and 0.9 Mcal/d for FOR (P = 0.73). Greater nitrogen (N) consumption was observed for FOR (192.2 g/d) than CONC (134.0 g/d; P < 0.01), and retained N was greater for FOR than CONC (P < 0.01) on days 116 and 235 of gestation. Neither concentrate-based or forage-based diets affected body condition score (P = 0.26). Heifers fed concentrate-based diets retained more energy in part because they had larger calves, but this energy was not recovered in maternal tissue.

Three-legged radiographic view for evaluating cranioventral lung region in standing calves with bovine respiratory disease.

This study proposed a novel radiographic positioning in order to image the cranioventral lung region using a portable X-ray unit and digital radiography system. In the novel position, calves were restrained in a chute and a unilateral forelimb was pulled cranially with the contralateral forelimb tied to the chute; the forelimbs were then spread cranio-caudally as in a scissor position (Three-legged view: TL view). In a preliminary study, we applied the TL view for imaging of 14 clinically healthy calves. In a clinical study, accuracy in detecting cranioventral lung lesions was compared between the standard standing view and the TL view for 19 calves, which were culled from herd; the results of postmortem examination were used as gold standard. Seven evaluators independently interpreted the images. The median (range) number of trials and the time for obtaining optimal position were 2 (1–7) and 263 sec (105–488), respectively in 14 healthy calves. Calves thicker than approximately 40 cm were not considered candidates for TL view in this setting because of difficulty in restraint and the low output of the portable X-ray unit. The TL view improved the detection of consolidation in the cranioventral lung region, compared with the standard view. The TL view was considered an optional view when the cranioventral lung region was an area of interest, because this view was relatively easy to perform and required a small number of personnel, even for large calves.

Factors Affecting Incidence of Uterine Torsion in Egyptian Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and its Response for Rolling

Objective: The present work was planned to study the incidence of uterine torsion in Egyptian buffaloes as well as its prognosis after mechanical treatment. Methods: A total number of 35 buffaloes of different ages, parities and stage of pregnancy with complain of colic and anorexia were included in the present study. These animals were examined rectally to detect stage of pregnancy, degree, direction, duration, location of uterine torsion. Mechanical handling of torsion cases and prognosis of recovered cases was performed. After birth, sex of new born was also recorded. Results: The torsion of uterus mostly occurred in pleuriparous buffaloes (100%) in right side (85.7%) during second half of pregnancy (100%). Most cases were postcervical (85.7%) during the early stage (7 and 8 months). Torsion also may occur during labour (17.4%) where the cervix was dilated after correction. Most cases of uterine torsion occur in stabled animals for long period (97%). The uterine torsion associated with male calves (65.7%) as well as with large size calves (40-50kg) and majority of the calves were in normal position. The first foetal sac expelled in majority of cases was amniotic sac (97%) with few cases of placental retention. Uterine torsion with short duration (1-6 h) usually needs 1-2 rolls only for correction and usually takes 0-6h (100%) for cervical dilatation. Occurrence of uterine torsion for above three days usually did not respond for rolling. Conclusion: Uterine torsion usually occurs in old stabled animal with good BCS during green season at last month of pregnancy. The right sever and post cervical torsion were the most common type of torsion. Rapid diagnosis of uterine torsion within 6 h usually results in good prognosis even in severe cases.

Genome-wide association study for calving traits in Holstein–Friesian dairy cattle

Dystocia and perinatal mortality are quantitative traits that significantly impact animal productivity and welfare. Their economic importance is reflected by their inclusion in the national breeding goals of many cattle populations. The genetic architecture that influences these traits, however, has still yet to be thoroughly defined. Regions of the bovine genome associated with calving difficulty (direct and maternal) and perinatal mortality were detected in this study using a Bayesian approach with 43 204 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on up to 1970 Holstein–Friesian bulls. Several SNPs on chromosomes 5, 6, 11, 12, 17,18 and 28 were detected to be strongly associated with these calving performance traits. Novel genomic regions with previously reported associations with growth, stature, birth weight and bone morphology were identified in the present study as being associated with the three calving performance traits. Morphological abnormalities are a known contributor to perinatal mortality and the most significantly associated SNP for perinatal mortality in the present study was located in a region in linkage disequilibrium with the gene SLC26A7. This gene, SLC26A7, has similarities and colocalises with SLC4A2, which has previously been associated with osteoporosis and mortality in cattle populations. The HHIP gene that is known to be associated with stature in humans was strongly associated with direct calving difficulty in the present study; large calves are known to, on average, have a greater likelihood of dystocia. A stemloop microRNA, bta-mir-1256, on chromosome 12, involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression was associated with maternal calving difficulty. Previously reported quantitative trait loci associated with calving performance traits in other populations were again identified in this study; with one genomic region on chromosome 18 supporting very strong evidence of an underlying causative mutation and accounting for 2.1% of the genetic variation in direct calving difficulty. Overlapping genomic regions associated with one or more of the calving traits were also detected substantiating the known genetic covariances existing between these traits. Moreover, some genomic regions were only associated with one of the calving traits implying the selective genomic breeding programs exploiting these regions could help resolve genetic antagonisms.

Unexplained recurring high mortality of southern right whale Eubalaena australis calves at Península Valdés, Argentina

Hundreds of southern right whale calves Eubalaena australis died on their calving ground at Peninsula Valdes, Argentina from 2003 through 2011. During this period, the number of dead calves increased at a much greater rate than that of living calves over the preceding 32 yr, and with greater inter-annual variation. High mortality events occurred late in the calving seasons of 2005 and 2007, early in the seasons of 2008 and 2009, and were equally divided between early and late in 2010 and 2011. Calves that died late in the seasons of 2005 and 2007 were at least a meter longer (mean 7.3 m) than newborns, indicating that they had grown and presumably were healthy before dying. An unusual number of large calves (>6 m) died early in the seasons of 2008 and 2009, suggesting that a population-wide process (e.g. nutritional stress) affected many mothers including older, larger mothers that tend to give birth to larger calves early in the season. Many tissue samples have been collected and analyzed, but no consistent lesions, pathologic processes or elevated levels of algal biotoxins have been identified to explain these recent mortality events. Here, we document the high mortality events, place them in historical context and describe ongoing efforts to identify their causes. As of 2010, the southern right whale sub-population that calves off Peninsula Valdes was estimated to be less than 20% of its initial size before whaling; the ongoing high mortality of calves will significantly affect its recovery.

Genetic parameters for calf mortality and correlated cow and calf traits in tropically adapted beef breeds managed in extensive Australian production systems

The genetic associations between cow teat and udder traits with maternal contributions to calf mortality were studied in Brahman (BRAH) and Tropical Composite (TCOMP) cattle managed in extensive production systems of northern Australia. Data from 9286 purebred and crossbred calves, progeny of 2076 cows and 149 sires, were recorded from 2003 to 2011. Calf weights at birth (BWT) and weaning (WWT) were routinely recorded. The event of calf death before weaning (DWEAN) was analysed as a repeated-measure of the cow. Cows were also scored at each calving for front- and back-teat size and udder size (US) on an ascending five-point scale. Heritabilities for front-teat size, back-teat size and US were 0.38 ± 0.05, 0.31 ± 0.05 and 0.49 ± 0.01, and estimates were the same for BRAH and TCOMP. The heritability of DWEAN was higher in BRAH (0.09 ± 0.02) than in TCOMP (0.02 ± 0.01). Variance ratios for maternal genetic effects contributing to variation in BWT and WWT were 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.18 ± 0.05, and tended to be larger in TCOMP than in BRAH. Teat and udder scores were moderately correlated phenotypically (0.37 ± 0.01) and genetically (0.53 ± 0.04) with each other. Both traits were uncorrelated genetically with calf birthweight but positively correlated with WWT and DWEAN. The genetic correlation between average teat score at calving and DWEAN was larger (0.54 ± 0.05) than that between US and DWEAN (0.33 ± 0.06), whereas the genetic correlation between US and maternal effects for WWT was larger (0.60 ± 0.08) than the corresponding value for average teat score with maternal WWT (0.37 ± 0.13). Correlations between BWT and WWT were high for both direct (0.63 ± 0.07) and maternal (0.50 ± 0.09) genetic effects. Genetic correlations between maternal effects for BWT or WWT with DWEAN were both negative (–0.23 ± 0.10 and –0.21 ± 0.04), while the correlation between BWT and WWT for maternal effects was positive (0.54 ± 0.09), showing that larger calves at birth are less likely to die before weaning and have heavier weaning weights from maternal genetic contributions to these traits. Selection on maternal components of BWT and WWT should be accompanied by recording for teat and udder characteristics to assist in preventing any undesired correlated response in teat or udder size, which can have detrimental outcomes for calf survival, despite expectations of higher milk yield.

Ankle Fracture Following Hip Arthroscopy

This article describes a case of an ankle fracture following hip arthroscopy. A 58-year-old woman underwent hip arthroscopy for a labral tear. She was placed in a lateral decubitus position with her foot in a padded boot. Traction was maintained for approximately 30 minutes. She was instructed to bear weight as tolerated with crutches postoperatively. At 2-week follow-up, she reported ipsilateral ankle pain. Radiographs revealed a minimally displaced medial malleolus fracture. She was treated with a cast followed by a cam walker boot and successfully went on to complete union and resolution of her symptoms. The following risk factors exist for ankle fracture after hip arthroscopy: history of ankle sprains, ligamentous laxity (more common in women), and small feet with large calves (more likely to become plantarflexed during traction). Distraction performed with the ankle rotated is also likely to place added stress on the medial or lateral ligamentous structures. It is important to counsel patients preoperatively about the risk of ankle pain after hip arthroscopy, to be aware of the possibility of ankle pathology postoperatively, and to have a low threshold for ordering radiographs. Radiographs are warranted if patients continue to have ankle pain after 72 hours postoperatively.

Founder Mutation for a-sarcoglycan-LGMD2D in a Magdalen Islands Acadian Cluster

We have recruited a group of four living and reviewed the records of six deceased distantly related French-Canadians of Acadian descent affected by a childhood-onset form of recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). All cases originate from the small archipelago of the Magdalen Islands (population: 13,000) isolated in the Gulf of St-Lawrence. Based on the likely sharing of the same founder mutation we completed a 319K SNPs genome-wide scan to identify the disease locus and then screen candidate genes in this region. All patients had normal initial motor milestones. They presented with limb girdle weakness at the average age of seven years (5-11). Progressive weakness led to loss of ambulation at a wide range of ages (10-39). Patients also developed macroglossia, large calves and mild to moderate contractures, hyperlordosis and decreased pulmonary function. Creatine kinase levels were elevated (1,800-10,000 U/L) in the first decades, but decreased with progression of disease. Homozygosity mapping uncovered a shared chromosomal region of 6.33Mb. The alpha sarcoglycan (SGCA) gene, mutated in LGMD2D, lay in this candidate interval. Sequencing of all SGCA exons uncovered a shared homozygous missense mutation (c. 229C>T, p.R77C), the most common SGCA mutation internationally reported. Using demographic data, we estimated a high carrier rate of 1/22. The p.R77C mutation has also been observed in many populations, including in France and Spain (Basques). This corresponds to the first reported recessive founder disease for the Magdalen Islands, an archipelago settled in the XIXth century, largely by Acadian immigrants.

Which dairy calves are cross-sucked?

We examined which calves within a group were the recipients of cross-sucking, whether this was related to body weight or feeding behaviour, and whether cross-sucking served to displace calves from the feeders. Forty-five Holstein dairy calves housed in groups of nine and fed by computer-controlled feeders were used. Calves were fed either 6 L/d or 12 L/d of milk and gradually (over 9 d) weaned off milk either by d47 or d89. Cross-sucking was recorded continuously for 12 h/d on 2 d at approximately 37 d, 47 d, 79 d and 89 d of age. Data on feeding behaviour were collected automatically by the feeders. There were large differences between calves in the duration of time being cross-sucked. There was a moderate positive correlation across calves in the duration of being cross-sucked and the duration of cross-sucking another calf. The top quartile of calves that were cross-sucked accounted for 68% of the total duration of cross-sucking. These calves had significantly higher bodyweights and spent more time in the milk feeders than the lowest quartile at most ages, but no difference was found in the time spent in the starter feeders. The calves were most often cross-sucked in the sawdust-bedded area at d37 and d47 and in the feeder areas at d79 and d89, but only a minority of cross-sucking occurred while the calf was actually in a feeder. In 80% of the episodes of cross-sucking that occurred when the recipient was in a feeder, the receiver remained in the feeder. Cross-sucking rarely resulted in a calf being displaced from a feeder. We concluded that larger calves that spend more time in the feeders seem to be at a higher risk for being cross-sucked but that cross-sucking does not serve to displace animals from the feeders.