Laparoscopic ovariectomy in a beef cow

• Published in: Tierärztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G, Grosstiere/Nutztiere Vol. 50; no. 6; p. 399
• Main Authors: Stahl, Lydia, Froels, Coco, Sickinger, Marlene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle - surgery; Cattle Diseases - surgery; Dystocia - veterinary; Female; Laparoscopy - veterinary; Male; Ovariectomy - adverse effects; Ovariectomy - veterinary; Pregnancy; Reproduction
• ISSN: 2567-5834
• DOI: 10.1055/a-1952-3216

A 13.25-year-old Tyrol Grey cow was presented to the Clinic for Ruminants at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen with the request to have the animal castrated after having experienced dystocia. The cow had already given birth to 10 live calves by this time and was kept on pasture in a herd of cows and one bull. As the owner did not intend to continue breeding the cow, but still wanted to keep the animal, he brought the cow to the clinic. The animal was presented 6 weeks after calving with a calf at foot. The calf was in good general health, displayed good developmental and nutritional status and did not show any clinical abnormalities. The general, as well as the gynecological examination of the cow, were unremarkable. During the transrectal examination, the uterus could be gathered in the hand. The uterus was flaccid, not filled with fluid, and the uterine wall showed no abnormalities. The ovaries measured 3×2x2 cm on the left and 3.5 × 2.5 × 2 cm on the right. The left ovary showed no functional structures and only a few follicles were palpated on the right side. Vaginoscopy did not reveal any abnormal findings. Due to the physiological puerperium, the cow was castrated by means of laparoscopic ovariectomy. The animal was left standing, and the surgery was performed from the left flank. In the days after the surgical procedure, the cow was in good general health, showed no pain at all during transrectal palpation of the amputation sites and was reintegrated into the herd two days post-surgery. The case presented here is intended to demonstrate the technique of endoscopy-assisted ovariectomy. It also intends to argue that castrating cows is an effective means of keeping cows in the herd, even if they are no longer bred. This seems to be of increasing interest, especially for beef cattle farmers and hobby farmers.