Clinical and radiographic changes of carpi, tarsi and interphalangeal joints of beef zebu bulls on semen collection regimen

Abstract

Osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis are highly correlated to reproductive failure in bulls. This study aimed to evaluate the carpal, tarsal and interphalangeal lesions in beef zebu bulls on semen collection regimen. Twentyone beef cattle bulls, in a total of forty-one animals, were split into three age-based groups: animals from two to four years old (GI), from more than four to eight years old (GII) and above eight years old (GIII). The clinical findings were conformational changes of limbs, synovial effusion, peripheral venous engorgement of joints and prolonged decubitus. The total population showed moderate clinical manifestation and radiographic score. The GIII presented more severe joint lesions. Carpi and tarsi regions had discrete to difuse osteophytosis, subchondral cysts, cartilaginous flaps, bone incongruence and fragmentation, osteitis, and ankylosis. Interphalangeal joints presented osteophytosis, distal phalanx osteitis and enthesophytosis. The digital radiographic examination allowed full identification of articular lesions and their clinical correspondences, besides the positive correlation between age, body weight and radiographic score.Keywords: cattle, infertility, male, overweight, radiology RESUMO Osteoartrite e osteocondrose estão altamente correlacionados à falha reprodutiva em touros. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as lesões do carpo, tarso e interfalangianas em touros zebuínos de corte em regime de coleta de sêmen. Vinte e um bovinos de corte, touros, provenientes de um total de 41 animais, foram divididos em três grupos baseados na idade, sendo eles: animais de dois a quatro anos (GI), de mais de quatro a oito anos (GII) e acima de oito anos de idade (GIII). Os sinais clínicos encontrados foram mudanças

Retrospective study of radiographic changes in athletic bulls with orthopedic disorders

“…Beginner animals were least affected by injuries (with 39.2% affected); noteworthy injuries were enthesopathy (6.6%), septic arthritis (6.6%), periostitis (6.0%) and fractures (5.3%). These results are the same as in breeding bulls, where a positive correlation between age and degenerative join disease was observed (Motta et al 2017).…”

“…There are some reports in the literature of retrospective radiographic studies in cattle, especially in dairy and confined animals (Barnabé 2005, Lima et al 2009 and in bulls (Motta et al 2017). However, none of these studies evaluated lesions solely related to athlete bulls.…”

“…Other aspects that explain the high frequency of lesions in the evaluated animals are: trauma related to transportation and rodeo, loading and unloading, fights and nutritional imbalance. To these are added risk factors commonly described for cattle (Ytrehus et al 2007, Motta et al 2017.…”

“…Radiographic findings in degenerative joint disease are characterized by subchondral bone sclerosis, subchondral bone cysts, osteophyte formation, subluxation, articular and intra-articular space narrowing, and periarticular calcification (Bargai et al 1989, Motta et al 2017. Periosteal response in cattle is rapid and extensive (Fergusson 1997, Barnabé 2005.…”

Principais aspectos sobre bem-estar de touros mantidos em centrais de coleta de sêmen

“…Sendo assim, é importante ter .253 em mente que a dieta de touros mantidos nas centrais de coleta de sêmen deve ser balanceada com oferta de volumosos e concentrados de ótima qualidade. Dando atenção especial aos problemas causados pela superalimentação a fim de evitar o sobrepeso dos animais, pois, durante as coletas de sêmen todo o peso do touro é depositado nos membros posteriores, sobrecarregando-os e causando lesões nas articulações (Motta et al, 2017).…”