This study aimed to evaluate intake, energy and nitrogen balance as well as methane emission in Holstein and 1/2 Holstein 1/2 Gyr (Girolando-F1) cows during the transition period. Twenty-four cows (12 Holstein and 12 Girolando-F1) were used to evaluate feed intake, apparent digestibility, heat production and methane emission, carried out in two periods: from 28 to 19 days pre-calving and from 15 to 23 days post-calving. A completely randomised design was used and data were analysed by ANOVA within periods (pre- and post-calving) considering the main effect of genetic groups. Girolando-F1cows presented greater body condition score (BCS) compared with Holstein. During pre-calving, there were no differences between genetic groups, except for highest heat production per kilogram of metabolic body weight for Holstein cows. After calving, Holstein cows had greater intake of DM, nitrogen, NDF per kg of BW and produced more heat per kg of metabolic body weight. Holstein cows yielded more milk and fat-corrected milk (FCM4%) compared with Girolando-F1 cows. Holstein cows presented higher methane emission per unit of BW and of metabolic weight. Emissions of enteric methane per kilogram of milk and per kilogram of FCM4% tended to be lower for Holstein compared with Girolando-F1 cows. Nitrogen and energy retention were similar for both Holstein and Girolando-F1 at pre- and post-calving. Despite differences in BCS, DMI, and milk yield, Girolando-F1 and Holstein cows present overall similar energy efficiency, albeit Holstein cows tended to present less methane emission per kg of eligible product (milk).

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) poses significant challenges on beef and dairy farms, affecting mortality rates, animal welfare, and production efficiency. Although pulmonary ultrasonography is highly sensitive and specific for monitoring lung lesions and diagnosing BRD, its practical application could be optimized by focusing on the most commonly affected lung lobes. This study first evaluated the efficacy of focused lung ultrasonography for diagnosing BRD in calves, examining individual lung lobes and their associations versus the extensive lung scanning under various disease prevalence scenarios. Then, the relationship between individual and combined clinical respiratory signs versus lung consolidation was analyzed. In a combined analysis, 193 Holstein calves from a longitudinal study and 112 Angus calves from a cross-sectional study underwent a total of 1,265 complete bilateral thoracic ultrasonographic evaluations from 1 to 6 mo of age. Then, the agreement and sensitivity (Se) of specific lung lobe combinations compared with the findings from total lung ultrasonography was assessed. The classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm was used to suggest an optimal examination sequence, and logistic regression was applied to associate specific clinical signs with the presence of lung consolidation, adjusting for breed and calf age. Findings revealed that the most sensitive areas are the cranial (kappa value [κ] = 0.867; Se = 84.7%) and caudal portion of the right cranial lobe (κ = 0.433; Se = 40.3%), the caudal portion (κ = 0.235; Se = 20.6%) of the left cranial lobe, and the middle lobe (κ = 0.25; Se = 22%). The optimal lobe combinations for focused lung ultrasonography were identified as the right cranial lobe paired with either the left cranial lobe or the middle lobe. Focused techniques achieved Se greater than 94% and maintained good agreement. These focused techniques were relatively robust to various true lung consolidation scenarios. The CART analysis recommended initiating examinations with the right cranial lobe, proceeding to the left cranial lobe, and concluding with the middle lobe. Although spontaneous cough was linked to pneumonia presence, reliance on a single clinical sign is not advised due to low Se (26.8%) and high specificity (85.4%); it should merely prompt further ultrasound assessment. In conclusion, focused lung ultrasonography, especially utilizing the right cranial lobe in conjunction with the left cranial lobe or the middle lobe, emerged as an effective strategy for focused pulmonary ultrasonography, preserving the accuracy of the results.

The transition period in dairy cows increases susceptibility to various diseases. Abomasal diseases, particularly abomasal displacement (AD) and abomasal ulcers (AU), are important causes of production losses, early culling, and compromised animal welfare. However, few contemporary reviews have comprehensively synthesized these conditions. This narrative review aims to critically synthesize the main risk factors, integrate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and present recent advances in diagnosis and treatment. Evidence indicates that AD and AU are disorders closely associated with a negative energy balance, hypocalcemia, and systemic inflammation. These factors interact through complex immunometabolic pathways. Inflammatory activation, often triggered by endotoxins or sterile inflammation, increases pro-inflammatory cytokine production, disrupts calcium homeostasis, and gastrointestinal neuromuscular function. Consequently, there is a reduction in ruminal and abomasal motility, decreased dry matter intake, and a greater predisposition to gas accumulation and abomasal displacement, in addition to alterations in the integrity of the abomasal mucosa that favor ulcer formation. Furthermore, concomitant diseases such as subclinical ketosis, metritis, lameness, and subacute ruminal acidosis amplify these processes. Despite advances in diagnosis, clinical overlap with other digestive disorders remains a challenge. Preventive strategies should prioritize nutritional management, modulation of inflammation, and maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. Current evidence suggests that AD and AU may be associated with systemic immunometabolic dysregulation rather than representing entirely isolated disorders. However, further studies are needed to confirm the proposed mechanisms in cattle and to determine their implications for prevention and control strategies.

We report here 6 cases of bovine eurytrematosis on 2 farms (dairy and beef cattle) in southeastern Brazil. The cattle had different primary lesions that explained their clinical conditions; however, upon autopsy, common to all animals were abnormalities in the pancreas and the presence of Eurytrema spp. All parasitized pancreases were swollen, firm, and tan to yellow-pink. Upon dissection, numerous parasites were observed, the pancreatic ducts were thickened and dilated, and the parenchyma was fibrotic. Histopathologic findings were multifocal-to-diffuse chronic interstitial pancreatitis. Despite clinical signs, such as low body condition score, compatible with eurytrematosis, it was challenging to determine whether these signs were caused primarily by the pancreatic lesion or by the primary disease affecting the cows. Bovine eurytrematosis may be associated with other underlying conditions, making its diagnosis difficult and potentially impacting the prognosis of the affected animals. Our findings underscore the harmful nature of Eurytrema coelomaticum as a parasite and emphasize that it may be more than an incidental finding at autopsy.