poisoning in a dairy farm in Switzerland: a glimpse at the milk safety aspect.

Colchicine poisoning in livestock presents a significant challenge for dairy farming, particularly in regions where Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus) is prevalent in pastures. This case report describes an incident on an organic dairy farm in Eastern Switzerland where Brown Swiss cattle showed clinical signs after consuming freshly mown meadow forage containing autumn crocus leaves. The ingestion of this highly toxic plant led to severe effects such as apathy, hypothermia, and reduced milk production, which required immediate veterinary intervention.

Relationships between uterine blood flow, peripheral sex steroids, expression of endometrial estrogen receptors and nitric oxide synthases during the estrous cycle in mares.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between uterine perfusion and estrogen, progesterone and the uterine nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system in five trotter mares during the estrous cycle. Color Doppler sonography for measurement of uterine blood flow and collection of blood for determination of plasma estrogen and progesterone concentrations were performed on days 0 (= ovulation), 1, 5, 11 and 15 and daily during estrus (days -1 to -4) of one estrous cycle; endometrial biopsy collection for mRNA expression analysis of NOS and estrogen receptors was performed on days 0, 1, 5, 11, 15 and -3. Blood flow in each uterine artery was assessed by calculating the mean time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV) and the pulsatility index (PI).