An effective way of preventing undesirable boar taint in pork meat caused by the presence of androstenone, skatole and indole is surgical castration of piglets. This, however, arouses growing social opposition. An alternative method of inhibiting the development of unpleasant odour is immune castration. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of both methods of castration for the elimination of the compounds responsible and to assess the suitability of oral fluid for pre-slaughter predictive testing for boar taint. The research material was pooled oral fluid and fat samples taken from gilts and surgically and immunologically castrated piglets. The samples were tested with a liquid chromatography– tandem mass spectrometry method developed in this research. The compounds giving rise to boar taint were found only sporadically above the accepted limits; only one sample of oral fluid contained skatole at a concentration above 200 μg L⁻¹ and one contained indole more concentrated than 100 μg L⁻¹. Indole above the limit value was also detected in one fat sample. In none of the tested samples was androstenone found. The results indicate the similar effectiveness of both methods of piglet castration on the reduction of compounds generating boar taint. The usefulness of testing oral fluid for the ante-mortem prediction of boar taint has not been fully confirmed and further investigation is needed.

Introduction: This article presents the analysis of the correlation between the category and health status of calves and the results of their rearing and levels of selected blood parameters.Material and Methods: The study included 105 Polish Holstein-Friesian and beef (Limousine, Charolaise and Hereford) crossbred calves. Young bulls were purchased at the age of two to four weeks. The animals underwent quarantine, were dehorned, and 46 young bulls were castrated. The germ horns were removed by burning out. Castration was carried out with a bloodless method using a rubber band. The calves were kept in groups and fed a milk replacer administered via teats from automated milk-feeding stations. After the period of milk feeding, the calves were fed grass silage ad libitum and a concentrate at 2.5 kg/animal/day. The calves were weighed every two weeks. Blood for analyses was sampled at 43 d of age.Results: After the rearing period finished at the age of six months, young bulls and steers had similar body weights (176.17 and 176.55 kg) and approximate average daily weight gains from birth (0.756 and 0.767 g/day). The healthy calves at six months of age weighed 180.47 kg, whereas the animals which at least once suffered from some diseases during rearing were lighter by approx. 30 kg (P ≤ 0.01). A statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01) difference was found for the count of red blood cells and white blood cells. In comparison with healthy individuals, the diseased animals had less RBC (8.33 and 9.42 10¹²/L respectively) and more WBC (27.03 and 12.26 10⁹/L respectively).Conclusion: Castration of young bulls did not have any impact on the results of rearing and health status of the calves. The magnitude of the analysed parameters depended on the health status of the calves. Thus RBC and WBC parameters may be used to predict the health status of calves during rearing.

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intratesticularly administered lidocaine and bupivacaine in castration in cats. 20 cats were divided into two groups regardless of breed and age. 80 microgram/kg medetomidine injection was administered for sedation. 4 mg/kg lidocaine or 1 mg/kg bupivacaine were injected intratesticularly in lidocaine and bupivacaine groups respectively. Castration was performed with routine methods. The reactions of the animals to the incision and the extraction of the funiculus spermaticus were recorded. After the operation, the animals were awakened by atipamezole. The pulse rate, respiratory rate and pain scores were evaluated for 6 hours at half-hour intervals. UNESP-Botucatu cat pain scale, Grimace cat pain scale and Glasgow cat pain scale were used to evaluate pain scores. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in Grimace and Glasgow pain scores at the 150th min. and 180th min. postoperative evaluations (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in Botucatu pain score at the 60th, 90th, 150th, 180th, 300th and 330th min. (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in the pulse and respiration values ​​(p>0.05). As a result, it was determined that bupivacaine should be preferred to lidocaine for long-lasting surgical procedures and postoperative analgesia due to its long duration of action.

OBJECTIVE To determine plasma concentrations of lidocaine after laryngeal administration or laryngeal and intratesticular administration in cats. ANIMALS 14 healthy adult sexually intact male cats (7 cats/treatment). PROCEDURES Cats were randomly allocated to receive 0.1 mL of 2% or 10% lidocaine hydrochloride solution (treatments L2 and L10, respectively) sprayed on the larynx for laryngeal desensitization, followed by endotracheal intubation and isoflurane anesthesia. After a 7-day washout period, cats were again randomly allocated to receive treatment L2 or L10, and castration was performed under isoflurane anesthesia following intratesticular administration of 2% lidocaine solution (0.1 mL/kg). In both experiments, a blood sample for measurement of plasma lidocaine concentration was obtained before (0 minutes) and 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes after laryngeal administration of lidocaine solution. Anesthesia was discontinued at 60 minutes. Plasma lidocaine concentrations were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS After treatments L2 and L10, median maximum plasma lidocaine concentrations were 34.1 ng/mL (range, 0 to 279.4 ng/mL) and 93.6 ng/mL (range, 79.3 to 182.2 ng/mL), respectively. Time to maximum plasma concentration was 10 minutes (range, 0 to 20 minutes) for each treatment. When cats received intratesticular lidocaine administration following L2 or L10 treatment, median maximum plasma concentration was 181.0 ng/mL (range, 103.7 to 600.2 ng/mL) and 301.2 ng/mL (range, 265.8 to 1,770.0 ng/mL), respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE On the basis of these data, combined laryngeal and intratesticular administration of lidocaine solution at a total dose of approximately 5 mg/kg appears to be safe for use in healthy adult cats.

Thirty apparently healthy lambs with average weight and age of 5.8±0.5 kg and 15±1.6 days respectively were chosen in Sids Agricultural Research Station belonging to Animal Production Research Institute in Beni-Suef governorate to investigate the effect of castration and docking on maintenance behaviour and blood cortisol level during and after such operations. Lambs were classified into castration (n=10), docking (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The results revealed that castration and docking could significantly affect the behaviours of standing idle, recumbency, sleep, suckling and ingestion in lambs. Moreover, blood cortisol level was significantly (p<0.05) increased after operation in castrated and docked lambs as compared to the time before, at operation and 3 hours after operation.

The objective of this study was to compare 2 surgical approaches (scrotal or abdominal) for castration of guinea pigs and to investigate post-operative infection rates with either technique. Forty-eight guinea pigs were castrated by scrotal or abdominal technique after being randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n = 24). Individuals were either castrated by an experienced exotic animal surgeon (n = 12) or by an experienced small animal surgeon (n = 12). Surgical wounds were evaluated daily before euthanasia for histological evaluation 2 wks after surgery. Post-operative infection rate was significantly higher in the scrotal group than in the abdominal group, with a higher rate for the experienced small animal surgeon. Castration of guinea pigs with the abdominal technique is significantly faster and has a significantly lower post-operative infection rate than the scrotal technique.

Objective: To investigate the hemostatic response to surgery and compare the response for ovariohysterectomy with that for ovariectomy and to evaluate the usefulness of thromboelastography on plasma samples. Animals: 42 female dogs. Procedures: Dogs were assigned to undergo ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy. Blood samples were collected immediately before and 1, 6, and 24 hours after surgery and stored at −80°C for subsequent analysis. Plasma samples were subjected to thromboelastography after thawing. In addition, coagulation variables were measured, including concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen, fibrinogen, antithrombin, and protein C; activity of factor VIII; activated partial thromboplastin time; prothrombin time; and thrombin time. The fibrinolytic response was assessed via concentrations of D-dimer, plasminogen, and α-2-antiplasmin (plasmin inhibitor). Results: Substantial hemostatic and fibrinolytic activation was evident after surgery in both groups, as characterized by significantly increased global clot strength and an overall hypercoagulable state at 4 hours after surgery in addition to decreases in von Willebrand factor antigen and factor VIII concentrations and shortened prothrombin and thrombin times. The dogs also typically had activation of the fibrinolytic system, as evidenced by increased postoperative concentrations of D-dimer, plasminogen, and plasmin inhibitor. Differences between the 2 groups could not be detected for any variables. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Elective surgery with limited tissue trauma induced hemostatic activation in dogs, which led to hypercoagulability after surgery. A difference between the ovariohysterectomy and ovariectomy groups was not detected. Thromboelastography can be used on plasma samples and may be useful for evaluating patterns over time.

Objective—To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of xylazine, ketamine, and butorphanol (XKB) administered IM and sodium salicylate (SAL) administered PO to calves and to compare drug effects on biomarkers of pain and distress following sham and actual castration and dehorning. Animals—40 Holstein bull calves from 3 farms. Procedures—Calves weighing 108 to 235 kg (n = 10 calves/group) received one of the following treatments prior to sham (period 1) and actual (period 2) castration and dehorning: saline (0.9% NaCl) solution IM (placebo); SAL administered PO through drinking water at concentrations from 2.5 to 5 mg/mL from 24 hours prior to period 1 to 48 hours after period 2; butorphanol (0.025 mg/kg), xylazine (0.05 mg/kg), and ketamine (0.1 mg/kg) coadministered IM immediately prior to both periods; and a combination of SAL and XKB (SAL+XKB). Plasma drug concentrations, average daily gain (ADG), chute exit velocity, serum cortisol concentrations, and electrodermal activity were evaluated. Results—ADG (days 0 to 13) was significantly greater in the SAL and SAL+XKB groups than in the other 2 groups. Calves receiving XKB had reduced chute exit velocity in both periods. Serum cortisol concentrations increased in all groups from period 1 to period 2. However, XKB attenuated the cortisol response for the first hour after castration and dehorning and oral SAL administration reduced the response from 1 to 6 hours. Administration of XKB decreased electrodermal activity scores in both periods. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—SAL administered PO through drinking water decreased cortisol concentrations and reduced the decrease in ADG associated with castration and dehorning in calves.

We performed a study to determine a reference range for serum alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1 AT) in dogs by specific immunoassay; to evaluate whether serum alpha 1 AT concentration varied with age, sex, or reproductive status in healthy dogs; and to investigate whether the serum alpha 1 AT concentration in hospitalized dogs differed from that of healthy, nonhospitalized dogs. Serum alpha 1 AT was quantitated by radial gel immunodiffusion for 60 healthy dogs and 311 hospitalized dogs. In healthy dogs, serum alpha 1 AT concentration was 2.33 +/- 0.41 mg/ml (mean +/- SD), yielding a reference range (mean +/- 2 SD) of 1.51 to 3.15 mg/ml. A correlation was not found between serum alpha 1 AT concentration and age in healthy dogs. The serum alpha 1 AT concentration (mean +/- SEM mg/ml) was significantly higher in healthy, sexually intact females (2.64 +/- 0.1) than in healthy, spayed females (2.22 +/- 0.12; P < 0.004); healthy, sexually intact males (2.14 +/- 0.1; P < 0.0006); and healthy, castrated males (2.25 +/- 0.14; P < 0.02). Hospitalized, sexually intact females had a lower serum alpha 1 AT concentration (1.93 +/- 0.07) than healthy, sexually intact females (2.64 +/- 0.1; P < 0.0002). Likewise, the serum alpha 1 AT concentration in hospitalized, sexually intact males (1.92 +/- 0.04) was less than in healthy, sexually intact males (2.14 +/- 0.1; P < 0.04). A difference in alpha 1 AT concentration was not found between healthy and hospitalized, neutered dogs.

To measure the concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein in horses a sensitive and highly reproducible sandwich (ELISA) was established, using affinity purified SAA antibody. Results of the ELISA were found to have a high correlation (r = 0.95) with those of the single radial immunodiffusion test. Equine SAA concentration was measured by use of this ELISA. In clinically normal horses, the concentration of SAA was high immediately after birth to 2 weeks of age. After that, SAA concentration had periodic fluctuations in the range of approximately 10 to 30 microgram/ml. Mean (+/- SD) concentrations of SAA in foals (less than or equal to 12 months old) and adult horses (greater than or equal to 18 months old) were 21.23 +/- 12.20 and 14.93 +/- 9.07 microgram/ml, respectively. In mares during the perinatal period, SAA concentration remained stable within the reference range before parturition. It increased quickly after delivery, and reached a peak value of 101.29 +/- 98.82 microgram/ml on postpartum day 3, then began to decrease, at postpartum week 2, to the reference range by the end of postpartum month 1. In horses with experimentally induced inflammation, SAA concentration increased quickly and reached approximately four- to 40-fold increase over the pretreatment value on day 1 and remained high on days 2 to h after treatment. It then returned to the baseline value by 2 to 4 weeks in association with disappearance of local signs of inflammation. The SAA concentration was high in most horses with clinical signs of inflammation. It was concluded from these data that this ELISA is sensitive and reliable for measuring SAA in horses.