The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of puerperal uterine disease on uterine blood flow using trans-rectal Doppler sonography. Lactating Holstein Friesian cows (n = 44) were divided into two groups based on whether they were healthy (UD−; n = 23) or had uterine disease (UD+; n = 21) defined as retained fetal membranes and/or metritis. General clinical examination, vaginoscopy, trans-rectal palpation, and trans-rectal B-Mode sonography were conducted on Days 8, 11, 18, 25 and then every 10 days until Day 65 after calving. Doppler sonography of the uterine arteries was conducted on Day 8, during diestrus after the second ovulation (Days 40-60 after calving) and during diestrus before breeding (Days 63-75 after calving). Cows with uterine disease had greater (P < 0.05) uterine size as assessed trans-rectally compared with cows of the UD group. Sonographic measurements on Day 11 after parturition revealed a greater (P < 0.05) horn diameter in cows of the UD+ than in the UD− group. Both uterine size and uterine horn diameter decreased more earlier following parturition (P < 0.05) in cows of the UD− group. Blood flow volume (BFV) was greater and pulsatility index was less on Day 8 after calving in cows of UD+ than UD− group (P < 0.05). In cows of the UD−, but not in those of the UD+ group, there was a further reduction in BFV subsequent to Day 45 after calving (P < 0.05). The results of this study show that uterine blood flow measures by trans-rectal Doppler sonography are affected by puerperal uterine disease.

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The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of time of first postpartum ovulation after calving on uterine involution in dairy cows with and without uterine puerperal disease. Transvaginal follicular puncture (FP) of follicles >6 mm suppressed ovulation and development of a CL until Day 42 after calving. Fifty-three lactating Holstein Friesian cows (3.4 ± 1.2 years old, parity 2.5 ± 1.0 [median ± mean absolute deviation]) were divided into groups on the basis of the presence (UD+) or absence (UD−) of uterine disease and whether FP was carried out (FP+) or not (FP−). Uterine disease was defined as the occurrence of retained fetal membranes and/or metritis. This resulted in the following groups: UD−FP− (n = 15), UD−FP+ (n = 13), UD+FP− (n = 13), and UD+FP+ (n = 12). A general examination, vaginoscopy, transrectal palpation, and transrectal B-mode sonography of the reproductive organs were conducted on Days 8, 11, 18, and 25 and then every 10 days until Day 65 after calving. After hormonal synchronization of ovulation (cloprostenol between Days 55 and 60 postpartum and GnRH 2 days later), cows were inseminated in the next spontaneous estrus. On average, the cows ovulated on Day 21.0 ± 6.0 (UD−FP−), 50.0 ± 4.0 (UD−FP+), 16.0 ± 3.0 (UD+FP−), and 48.0 ± 2.0 (UD+FP+) postpartum. Calving-to-conception interval and first-service conception rates were not affected by FP (P > 0.05). Healthy cows with FP had smaller (P < 0.05) uterine horn and cervical diameters assessed sonographically than cows without FP. FP reduced the prevalence of purulent vaginal discharge and uterine size assessed transrectally in UD+ cows (P < 0.05). The results showed that suppression of an early ovulation by transvaginal FP improved uterine involution in cows with and without uterine disease.

During a fisheries research cruise on the Dogger Bank in the central North Sea, we studied the role of diet for the condition of grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus). Seventeen stations across the Dogger Bank were sampled with the GOV otter trawl in April⁄May 2006. Each fish sampled was categorised according to three feeding types: a predator specialised on fish, on invertebrates or having a mixed diet, depending on the percentage of fish and⁄or invertebrates in the stomach. These predator-prey categories were compared by means of three condition indices: FultonÕs condition factor, a hepatosomatic index (HSI) and a gonadosomatic index (GSI). FultonÕs condition factor provided evidence that a specialisation on fish prey increases the condition of grey gurnards in terms of the length-specific individual weight. In contrast, the HSI scored highest for predators feeding on a mixed diet. The GSI showed a tendency to be highest with a diet dominated by invertebrate prey, but differences between the three predatorprey categories were not significant. Based on the topography of the Dogger Bank, stations were allocated in shallow and deep regions. At shallow stations, the brown shrimp Crangon allmani and sandeels, combining basically the taxa Ammodytidae, Ammodytes juv. and Ammodytes marinus, were typically observed in stomach contents of gurnards whereas the amphipod Hyperia galba was predominantly found in gurnards sampled in deep regions.

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