{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:14:36Z","timestamp":1760145276009,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,8]],"date-time":"2024-07-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1720396800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF)"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the pelvic dimensions of Holstein cows on the traction forces during parturition. Additionally, the relationship between calf measurements and traction forces was explored. For this purpose, a modified in vitro biomechanical model simulating obstetric tractions was used. For the requirements of the experiment, six bone pelvises of deceased Holstein cows were collected based on their estimated pelvic inlet area (EPA) and prepared. Additionally, six stillborn calves were collected based on their body weight (BW). The parameters of the pelvic inlet and cavity were measured using computed tomography (CT). Using the simulator, every calf was pulled in a random order through all pelvises, realizing a total of 36 obstetrical tractions, and the required forces were documented with appropriate software. In each extraction, three peaks of forces were recorded, with the first peak occurring at the entrance of the elbows into the maternal pelvic cavity, the second peak at the entrance of the thorax, and the third at the entrance of the calf\u2019s pelvis. Logistic regression revealed an exponential relationship between pelvic parameters and traction forces for the entrance of the elbows and the pelvis, with the recorded forces being higher in the two smallest pelvises and stabilizing at a lower level thereafter, while for the entrance of the thorax, the correlations were either exponential or linear. The adjusted coefficients of determination (r2) were generally above the threshold of 0.5 for the entrance of the elbows and pelvis and lower (0.3\u20130.4) regarding the thorax and were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05) in all cases. Regarding the relationships between the calf dimensions and the required traction forces, the types of correlations were primarily linear and of lower magnitude. The combination of pelvic and calf parameters in a multivariate model resulted in an r2 of 0.72 for the entrance of the elbows using the pelvic diagonal and calf\u2019s body weight, an r2 of 0.62 using the pelvic area and calf\u2019s thoracic circumference, and an r2 of 0.75 using the pelvic diagonal and calf\u2019s fetlock joint width. In conclusion, under the conditions of the present experimentation, the applied traction forces were mainly influenced by the pelvic dimensions in an exponential manner, whereas the calf body measurements showed a weaker effect. Based on these findings, critical cut-off points exist, different for every pelvic parameter, below which a significant increase in the required traction forces is expected.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14132011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,8]],"date-time":"2024-07-08T11:30:02Z","timestamp":1720438202000},"page":"2011","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Relationship between Pelvic Dimensions and Maximum Traction Forces Required during Parturition in Holstein Cows Using a Biomechanical Obstetric Simulator"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5441-3503","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Angeliki","family":"Tsaousioti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3818-1348","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anastasia","family":"Praxitelous","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michail","family":"Patsikas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Diagnostic Imaging, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Meik","family":"Becker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1982-5101","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Heinrich","family":"Bollwein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9594-4976","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Constantin M.","family":"Boscos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Evangelos","family":"Kiossis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2913-3651","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Georgios","family":"Tsousis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"662","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.159.20.662","article-title":"Current attitudes of cattle practitioners to pain and the use of analgesics in cattle","volume":"159","author":"Huxley","year":"2006","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.104428","article-title":"Clinician attitudes to pain and use of analgesia in cattle: Where are we 10 years on?","volume":"181","author":"Remnant","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"860","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.12460","article-title":"Effect of dystocia on subsequent reproductive performance and functional longevity in Holstein cows","volume":"100","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Morek-Kope\u0107, M., Zarnecki, A., Ptak, E., and Otwinowska-Mindur, A. (2021). Effect of Calving Difficulties and Calf Mortality on Functional Longevity in Polish Holstein-Friesian Cows. Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11102792"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1751","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2006-295","article-title":"Impacts of dystocia on health and survival of dairy calves","volume":"90","author":"Lombard","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"685","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.161.20.685","article-title":"Economic cost of difficult calvings in the United Kingdom dairy herd","volume":"161","author":"McGuirk","year":"2007","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3745","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(03)73981-2","article-title":"Birth weight as a predictor of calving ease and perinatal mortality in Holstein cattle","volume":"86","author":"Johanson","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2017.11.001","article-title":"Prevalence, causes, resolution and consequences of bovine dystocia in Italy","volume":"107","author":"Veronesi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/0301-6226(84)90057-5","article-title":"Dystocia and stillbirth in cattle\u2014A review of causes, relations and implications","volume":"11","author":"Meijering","year":"1984","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022029923000468","article-title":"Association between dam and calf measurements with overall and fetopelvic dystocia in Holstein heifers","volume":"90","author":"Tsaousioti","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Dairy Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hohnholz, T., Volkmann, N., Gillandt, K., Wa\u00dfmuth, R., and Kemper, N. (2019). Risk Factors for Dystocia and Perinatal Mortality in Extensively Kept Angus Suckler Cows in Germany. Agriculture, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/agriculture9040085"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1515","DOI":"10.1016\/S0093-691X(98)00097-1","article-title":"A retrospective analysis of factors contributing to calf mortality and dystocia in beef cattle","volume":"49","author":"Nix","year":"1998","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1016\/S0093-691X(99)00275-7","article-title":"Effects of severity of dystocia on cold tolerance and serum concentrations of glucose and cortisol in neonatal beef calves","volume":"53","author":"Bellows","year":"2000","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1452","DOI":"10.2527\/1997.7561452x","article-title":"Effects of sire, dam traits, calf traits, and environment on dystocia and subsequent reproduction of two-year-old heifers","volume":"75","author":"Colburn","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.17221\/312-CJAS","article-title":"Calving difficulty as related to body weights and measurements of cows and calves in a herd of Gascon breed","volume":"53","author":"Bures","year":"2008","journal-title":"Czech J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731109991558","article-title":"Analysis of body measurements of newborn purebred Belgian Blue calves","volume":"4","author":"Kolkman","year":"2010","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-4320(98)00078-5","article-title":"Relationships of peri-partum, plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestrogens and 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin F2\u03b1 in heifers and of anatomical measurements of dam and calf with difficulty of calving in early-bred Hereford\u00d7Friesian heifers","volume":"52","author":"Olujohungbe","year":"1998","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1016\/S0167-5877(03)00106-5","article-title":"Dam-related effects on heart girth at birth, morbidity and growth rate from birth to 90 days of age in Swedish dairy calves","volume":"60","author":"Lundborg","year":"2003","journal-title":"Prev. Vet. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1052","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2010.11.013","article-title":"Application of computed tomography for the evaluation of obstetrically relevant measurements in German Holstein-Friesian calves","volume":"75","author":"Becker","year":"2011","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1044","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2009.11.031","article-title":"Extraction forces in bovine obstetrics: An in vitro study investigating alternate and simultaneous traction modes","volume":"73","author":"Becker","year":"2010","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvfa.2004.06.001","article-title":"Managing the dairy cow at calving time","volume":"20","author":"Mee","year":"2004","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. Food Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Noakes, D.P.T., and England, G. (2019). Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Elsevier. [10th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2010.09.017","article-title":"Extraction methods in bovine obstetrics: Comparison of the demanded energy and importance of calf and traction method in the variance of force and energy","volume":"75","author":"Tsousis","year":"2011","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2009.09.014","article-title":"Application of computed tomography for the evaluation of obstetrically relevant pelvic parameters in German Holstein-Friesian cows","volume":"73","author":"Tsousis","year":"2010","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0531.2011.01881.x","article-title":"Pelvic dimensions in phenotypically double-muscled Belgian Blue cows","volume":"47","author":"Kolkman","year":"2012","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim. Zuchthyg."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2296","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2013-6967","article-title":"A new application of pelvis area data as culling tool to aid in the management of dystocia in heifers","volume":"92","author":"Holm","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1016\/0093-691X(83)90188-7","article-title":"Dystocia in relationship to size and shape of pelvic opening in Holstein heifers","volume":"20","author":"Thomson","year":"1983","journal-title":"Theriogenology"}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/14\/13\/2011\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T15:11:48Z","timestamp":1760109108000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/14\/13\/2011"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,8]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"13","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7]]}},"alternative-id":["ani14132011"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani14132011","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2076-2615"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,8]]}}}