The effect of biotin supplementation on various foot lesions and hoof ceramide composition of toe (wall) and sole portions of hooves was studied in crossbred dairy cattle. Biotin supplementation was done for five months in 14 cattle at a farm and the other 14 animals kept as control. A significant decline was observed in heel erosions and sole avulsions along with total disappearance of white line fissures and double soles in the biotin supplemented cattle resulting in decrease in the overall disease score. Thin layer chromatographs of the hoof lipids revealed 11 types of ceramides in sole lipids and 6 types of ceramides in toe (wall) lipids. The ceramides were typed and identified according to their Rf values. A qualitative increase in the density of thin layer chromatographs of sole lipids was observed in biotin supplemented cattle whereas a non-significant difference in density of thin layer chromatographs of toe lipids was observed after supplementation of biotin.
The present report describes outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in neonatal cross bred cattle calves ageing 1-2 months in an organized dairy farm. The protozoan infection was confirmed by identifying bright red oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in the faecal samples after staining with modified acid Fast Zeihl-Neelsen stain. Metronidazole and furazolidone combination was able to induce clinically and parasitological recovery. This is believed to be the first report on the successful use of this drug combination against cryptosporidiosis.
Aim:The study was undertaken to study acute phase response based on acute phase proteins (APPs) such as C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), and fibrinogen in lame crossbred dairy cattle.Materials and Methods:Lame animals (n=30) were selected within 3-7 days of being noticed as lame by the farm veterinarian, from a local dairy farm in southeast Ludhiana over a period of 6 months, stratified proportionately with respect to stage of lactation with non-lame healthy cows (n=10). All the cows were otherwise healthy and did not have any other inflammatory problems such as pneumonia, enteritis, mastitis, or any kind of acute uterine inflammation. Blood samples were collected from all the animals; serum and plasma samples were separated and stored at −20°C. The levels of CRP, Hp, and SAA were estimated using Sandwich ELISA, whereas fibrinogen was estimated by heat precipitation method.Results:SAA levels in lame cows were significantly higher (22.19±0.85 µg/ml), approximately 3 times as compared to non-lame cows (8.89±0.72 µg/ml), whereas serum Hp concentration was approximately 20 times higher in the lame cattle (21.71±3.32 mg/dl) as compared to non-lame cows (1.17±0.07 mg/dl). Fibrinogen also increased in the lame cattle (3.97±0.22 g/L) as compared to non-lame group (1.40±0.17 g/L). Serum CRP levels analyzed in the lame cattle for the first time in the present study, and significant high concentration was appreciated in lame cattle (4.41±0.33 mg/L) as compared to non-lame cattle (0.61±0.14 mg/L). Lame cattle were having more of sole hemorrhages, sole ulcers, and white line lesions as compared to non-lame cattle.Conclusion:It can be concluded that lame cattle exhibit high levels of APPs including CRP, Hp, SAA, and fibrinogen as compared to non-lame cattle.
The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effect of biotin and zinc sulphate (ZnSO 4) supplementation on hoof health and milk quality in lactating dairy cows. Clinically lame (n = 31) and healthy (n = 28) cows were selected on the basis of locomotion scores (LS), and were randomly assigned to either the 'treatment group' [clinically lame treatment (CLT) = 17 and healthy treatment (HT) = 15; supplemented with 1 g of 2% biotin and 4 g of ZnSO 4 daily for 4 mo] or the 'control group' [clinically lame control (CLC) = 14 and healthy control (HC) = 13]. Locomotion scores, body condition scores, and milk quality and yield were estimated before and after the end of the study. Also, hoof trimming was undertaken before and after the supplementation period, and claw lesions were observed for type and severity. Sole thickness (ST) was measured by ultrasonography in some of the back claws in treatment and control cows. Data were analyzed using likelihood ratio Chi-square and paired t tests. At the end of the study, there was a significant improvement in the LS (P<0.001); heel horn erosion score (P<0.05); overgrown sole score (P<0.001); and sole haemorrhage score (P<0.01) in the CLT cows. Some of these lesion scores deteriorated in the HC cows. Sole thickness increased in the CLT cows (P<0.05), whereas it decreased in the CLC cows (P<0.05). The milk somatic cell count (SCC) decreased (P<0.05), whereas milk yield (P<0.001) and fat content (P<0.05) increased in the CLT cows. A significant decline in the average SCC (P<0.05) in the HT was also observed. We concluded that concurrent supplementation with biotin and ZnSO 4 seems to be beneficial for correction and prevention of claw lesions, as well as improvement of milk quantity and quality in clinically lame dairy cows.
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