To determine whether estimated birth calf weight can be used to assess the risk of dystocia, calf weight and coronet width were measured in 22 Japanese Brown cows several days before calving and immediately after birth. Eleven of the 22 calves had their forelimb coronet width measured before birth using a portable ultrasound imaging system. The relationship between coronet width ［X］ （echo value） and body weight ［Y_BW］ of newborn calves yielded the following equation: Y_BW = 1.3658X – 41.136 （r² = 0.9105, p < 0.001）. The upper quartile of the distribution of coronet width in calves （60.2 mm） was used as a threshold for high risk for dystocia. Three of the 22 calves tested were stillborn, and two of these calves had a coronet width greater than the threshold （61.6 mm and 62.0 mm, respectively）. In addition, the coronet width of the fetuses of seven Japanese Brown cows was measured by transrectal ultrasonography at the end of pregnancy, and the fetal weight was estimated using the above equation. Two of the seven cows had a coronet width （60.6 mm and 60.4 mm, respectively） greater than the threshold, indicating that the fetus was sufficiently large. Parturition was successfully induced to avoid dystocia. In conclusion, it was possible to measure the fetal coronet width by transrectal ultrasonography at the end of pregnancy and to use the conversion equation for estimating the fetal weight from the fetal hoof width in clinical practice. This technique may be useful in identifying cows at high risk of dystocia before calving to avoid dystocia.

Blood haptoglobin （Hp）, one of the important acute phase proteins in bovine species, has not been routinely utilized as an inflammatory marker in large animal practice. It is necessary to understand how Hp changes in diseases and in response to treatment. In the present study, we measured serum Hp and other inflammatory markers in female calves with bovine respiratory disease complex （BRDC） before and after antibiotic therapy. In the first experiment, serum Hp concentrations and white blood cell counts （WBC） were determined for eight days from the day of diagnosis （Day 1） in eight female calves in an agricultural experimental station. In the second experiment, Hp and another inflammatory marker, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein （AGP）, were measured on Day 1 and on Day 2 or 3 in 13 female calves in a commercial dairy farm. The results of the first experiment showed that Hp was high on Day 1 （median, 695μg/mℓ） but gradually decreased over the course of treatment. The median Hp concentration was 78μg/mℓ on Day 8, which was significantly lower than the value on Day 1 （Friedman test, p < 0.01）. In contrast, WBC did not show any significant changes （p = 0.09）. Symptoms improved in all calves. In the second experiment, Hp was elevated in five （38%） calves on Day 1 compared to the reported reference range （160μg/mℓ）. Four of these calves had decreased Hp values on Day 2 or Day 3. AGP was elevated in only two （15%） calves on Day 1 and Day 2 or 3. These results suggest that Hp may be a better inflammatory marker that reflects the disease status and response to treatment in calves with BRDC compared with WBC and AGP. We propose that Hp be included in routine blood test panels to evaluate the pathophysiology of BRDC in calves.

Hoof care management plays an important role in modern dairy farming and should be an essential part of veterinary school education. Cattle cadaver feet are often used for this purpose, as they are relatively easy to obtain. However, they are all “similar but different” from each other. Given the limited time available, adequate training of students for trimming techniques can be challenging when using hooves with different dimensions, angles, and weight-bearing surfaces as well as tools they have no experience with. This is especially true at our university where a large number of students （140） attend the same class at the same time. In veterinary education, there is also a growing trend toward using models and simulators instead of live or dead animals for humane reasons. In alignment with this trend, we developed an original wooden hoof model in 2018 and a resin model in 2019. These models mimic several common problems found in modern dairy cattle: the sole of the hind lateral claw that is higher than normal; longer toe of the lateral claw; bended dorsal wall; and markings made at common sites of sole ulcer or digital dermatitis. After training sessions with these models, we conducted a questionnaire survey among students and, in 2020, increased the number of hoof models along with cadaver hooves. Responses from the students were encouraging with improved educational outcomes.