We investigated the incidence of multiple births and its change in the MK area within T Branch,  Hokkaido,  and the accident rate at the time of birth and the production indices in single and multiple births among primiparous and multiparous cows in T Branch to clarify the accident rate at the time of birth in dairy cattle.  1) The incidence of multiple births significantly increased from 2.76% in 1972 to 4.18% in 2004-2007.  2) The incidence of multiple births in multiparous cows was significantly higher than in primiparous cows(5.18  % vs.  1.13 %). 3) The accident rate in multiple births was significantly higher than in single births(37.48%  vs.  6.53%). 4) The accident rates in single births and multiple births among primiparous cows were significantly higher than among multiparous cows(9.34%  & 45.25 % vs.  5.38 % & 36.82 %). 5) The production rate(number  of newborn calves per parturition) and the ratio of calves born(number  of newborn calves/number of fetuses) in multiple births among primiparous cows were significantly different from those in single births among primiparous cows(1.33  & 0.66 vs.  0.91 & 0.91).  Similarly,  the production rate and the ratio of calves born in multiple births among multiparous cows were significantly different from those in single births among multiparous cows(1.48  & 0.74 vs.  0.95 & 0.95).

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A group of Japanese Black Fattening cattle was given BIO-THREE (Treated  Group) during the early to middle fattening period for 6 months and compared with a non-treated group (Control Group).  Total cholesterol and albumin in the blood biochemical profile increased significantly in the Treated Group 3 and 7 months after the start of treatment,  compared to before treatment.  Blood urea nitrogen and vitamin E showed significant increases in both groups at 3 and 7 months.  Inorganic phosphate increased significantly in the Treated Group at 3 months.  The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels changed at a high rate in the Control Group from 3 months onward,  AST showing a significantly higher level in the Control Group than in the Treated Group at 3 months.  In the Control Group,  vitamin A showed a significantly lower value at 7 months compared to at 3 months.  As for the carcass results,  the Treated Group showed a significantly higher carcass weight and rib thickness.  The results suggest that dosing with BIO-THREE during the early to middle stage of fattening is effective for improving carcass grading and carcass weight in Japanese Black Fattening cattle.

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A six-day-old male Japanese Black calf (body  weight 30kg) was admitted to Kitasato University Animal Hospital with dysstasia since its birth.  The calf was suckling well,  with good appetite.  The left hind limb was short with three pairs of hooves and the calf could not put its weight on that limb.  On physical examination,  tibia and fibula were not recognized in the left hind limb and it moved freely in all directions.  Radiography revealed three pairs of claws (the  medial and lateral claws of the central hoof were fused) and two metatarsal bones,  with deficit of tibia and fibula.  This anomaly was also confirmed by pathological examination.  This is the first case of Japanese Black cattle diagnosed as polydactyly and syndactyly with defects of the tibia and fibula.

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A 24-month-old Japanese Black beef cow (body weight 446 kg) was admitted to Kitasato University Animal Hospital presenting with clinical symptoms of anorexia,  depression,  hard feces,  enophthalmus and severely jaundiced vulval mucous membrane.  Hematological and biochemical analyses revealed dehydration,  severe jaundice (to tal bilirubin[T-Bil] 8.0 mg/dℓ,  direct bilirubin[D-Bil] 6.0 mg/dℓ),  impaired hepatic function,  and hyperlipemia (γ-GTP  2,129 IU/ℓ,  AST 178 IU/ℓ,  bile acid 366μmol/ℓ,  total cholesterol 390 mg/dℓ).  Bilirubin was 3+ in urinalysis.  The clinical and biochemical findings were strongly suggestive of obstructive jaundice.  Therefore,  we treated by intravenous (i.v.)  injection of acetate Ringer's and 5 % glucose solution with added ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA,  473.5 mg/day),  and intramuscular (i.m.) injection of prednisolone (PDL,  100 mg/day).  We switched the bile acid drug to oral administration(UDCA,  500mg/day) and PDL i.m. to 50 mg/day from the third hospital day.  As plasma T-Bil further increased,  we treated with a prifinium bromide drug (PB,  75 mg/ day) i.v. during the 6th-8th hospital days.  The jaundice decreased and appetite improved by the 9th hospital day,  so we stopped PDL and gave only oral administration of the UDCA drug from then on.  The jaundice had disappeared by the 27th hospital day.  The plasma T-Bil had decreased to 0.6 mg/dℓ by the 40th hospital day,  when the cow was discharged from our hospital.  The animal was shipped 30 days later,  and the carcass was sold as normal.  On gross inspection,  the liver showed moderate swelling.  Microscopically,  diffuse hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes,  fibrosis of interlobular connective tissue,  and proliferation of bile ducts in the portal and periportal areas were observed.  The results suggest that treatment with UDCA and PB is effective for severe obstructive jaundice in cattle.

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