Clinic of Ruminants, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Educational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Hofgut Neumuehle, Muenchweiler an der Alsenz, Germany.
Vet Rec. 2023 May 20;192(10):e2730. doi: 10.1002/vetr.2730. Epub 2023 Apr 16.
Umbilical disinfection for calves is often recommended, but scientific studies do not always show a positive effect on disease prevention. In addition, there is little to no metric data on umbilical involution or on factors influencing the size of umbilical structures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the physiological involution of umbilical structures and the effect of two different umbilical treatment methods.
After birth, calves' umbilical cord stumps were treated with either an iodine tincture (n = 43) or an antibiotic spray (n = 41) or were left untreated (n = 42). On days 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 after birth, calves were examined and external umbilical structures were measured. In addition, on day 14 (±2 days), a sonographic examination of umbilical structures was conducted.
The treatment applied had no significant effect on the size of umbilical structures during the first 14 days of life. However, the diameter of the umbilical stalk was larger in male calves and calves with a higher birth weight than in female calves and calves with a lower birth weight.
The study was carried out on only one farm, so the generalisability of the findings may be limited.
Umbilical structures showed significant involution over time and were influenced by birth weight and sex.
常建议对小牛的脐部进行消毒，但科学研究并不总能表明这对预防疾病有积极影响。此外，脐部退化或影响脐部结构大小的因素几乎没有度量数据。因此，本研究旨在调查脐部结构的生理退化以及两种不同的脐部处理方法的效果。
小牛出生后，其脐带残端分别用碘酒（n = 43）或抗生素喷雾（n = 41）或不处理（n = 42）。出生后第 0、1、3、7 和 14 天，对小牛进行检查并测量外部脐部结构。此外，在第 14 天（±2 天）对脐部结构进行超声检查。
在生命的最初 14 天内，所应用的处理方法对脐部结构的大小没有显著影响。然而，与体重较低的雌性小牛相比，雄性小牛和体重较高的小牛的脐蒂直径更大。
该研究仅在一个农场进行，因此研究结果的普遍性可能有限。
脐部结构随时间显著退化，并受出生体重和性别影响。
