CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF CERVICAL COLUMN IN CALVES SUBMITTED TO CALF ROPING

Abstract

The modality of roundup calf roping has been questioned on the occurrence of possible injuries to the cervical vertebrae caused by the rope tension in the calf’s neck. In this work, 15 calves, male or female, ages varying from five to six months experimentally submitted to calf roping were evaluated. The procedure was carried out three times per week, in alternated days, during five weeks, adding the total of 225 lassoes. The calves had been evaluated by means of general and neurological clinical examination at the beginning of the first week, during the third one and at the end of the fifth experimental week. Simple and contrasted x-rays of the cervical vertebrae had been made at the beginning of the first one and at the end of the fifth week of experiment. The lassoes methods had been observed and classified qualitatively in weak or strong. Clinical and radiographic alterations in the animals during the experiment had not been found. The severity of the lassoes was considered strong in 77% of the cases. The fact that clinical and radiographic abnormalities have not been found indicates that the occurrence of cervical injuries in calves submitted to calf roping is not as high as divulged, however, it was considered an aggressive and rude procedure.

KEY WORDS: Calves, myelography, clinical neurology, trauma.