_____________________________________________________________________________Revista Cientifica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXIV, rcfcv-e34358
5 of 6
of the median line and cut equal pieces from both sides. Thus, there
is no balance problem in the tail section. French et al [18] and Fisher
[19] reported that tail amputation or partial removal of the tail of
fat–tailed lambs was performed for myasin prevention. In our study,
we did not encounter a similar advantage in terms of performing
operations in adult ewes and rams.
Kridli et al. [20] argued that although it is important to keep the
perianal area clean and free of faecal matter after tail amputations,
it may interfere with the sexual signaling of ewes during estrus and
thus sexual orientation and ram attraction. However, as a result of
long–term follow–up in all cases, similar results are observed in terms
of perianal area cleanliness, while no signs of sexual orientation and
attraction are observed, on the contrary, it is noted that the rams
were more active in vaccination. It is thought that the reduction
of the weight in the hind part of the fat–tailed ewes and rams after
partial tail extirpation helps the rams to perform vaccination, but
more studies are needed on this subject. At the same time, French
et al. [18] and Scobie [21] argued that tail amputations should be
performed more carefully in environments where there are no health
risks such as myiasis in sheep and that welfare concerns arising from
tail amputation should also be taken into consideration. In the present
study, since all operations are performed with animal welfare in mind,
no problems were encountered in the pre– and post–operative period.
Although many studies have shown that tail amputations cause acute
pain in lambs, these methods are a common procedure and are usually
performed by the breeder without pain management [22, 23]. The post
operative pain values of the anesthetic and analgesic agents used in
our study were determined using the facial pain scale developed by
Mclein et al. [24] was used in our study and no additional NSAID agent
was needed since the values were within normal limits in all cases.
The practice of tail amputations differs between regions and
countries and is most commonly performed ischemic by rapid
amputation by surgical excision or by applying a rubber ring, despite
clear evidence that it causes extreme pain [25]. Although these
practices are widely used worldwide, they both argue in favor of the
practice [18] have published studies against them [26]. However,
available data on total or partial extirpation for therapeutic purposes
in fat–tailed sheep of adult sheep and rams are limited in all literature
reviews [27]. Especially in fat–tailed sheep Worldwide, coccygeal
fractures occur for many reasons and osteosynthesis cannot be
performed due to the tail fat carried by the coccygeal bones. If not
intervened, the ventral part, which cannot be fed due to tail fat and
broken hematoma, gangrelates over time, then causes myiasis and
general condition disorder, and as a result, the animal encounters
serious problems due to sepsis or is sent to slaughter by the breeder.
However, no complications are encountered in animals undergoing
partial extirpation. It is an uncomplicated method that can be easily
applied in the practical eld due to its low cost of operation and can
be used easily in the treatment of coccygeal fractures.
CONCLUSIONS
As a result, no complications are encountered when post–operative
pain management and outpatient anesthesia protocol were applied
in the treatment of coccygeal fractures in sheep, which are seen in
large numbers in rural and barren areas.
It is concluded that the operation is completed successfully by
standing sedation and inltration local anesthesia to the area of
the operated with inverted V incision in sheep and rams. We believe
that it is an appropriate surgical treatment method for traumatic
coccygeal fractures in fat–tailed sheep and rams.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was supported by 2209–A– Projects Support Program
1st semester of 2022. Application number1919B012204211 (TÜBİTAK).
Conicts of interest
The authors have no declaration of competing interests.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
[1] Kalds P, Luo Q, Sun K, Zhou S, Chen Y, Wang X. Trends towards
revealing the genetic architecture of sheep tail patterning:
Promising genes and investigatory pathways. Anim. Genet.
[Internet]. 2021; 52(6):799–812. doi: https://doi.org/gr4gfv
[2] Han J, Ma S, Liang B, Bai T, Zhao Y, Ma Y, Jiang L. Transcriptome
proling of developing ovine fat tail tissue reveals an important
role for MTFP1 in regulation of adipogenesis. Front. Cell Develops.
Biol. [Internet]. 2022; 10:839731. doi: https://doi.org/mnj6
[3] Agboola O. Adjuvant treatment in gastric cancer. Cancer treatment
rev. [Internet]. 1994; 20(3):217–240. doi: https://doi.org/fvm2js
[4] Fride E. Endocannabinoids in the central nervous system: from
neuronal networks to behavior. Curr. Drug Targets CNS Neurol.
Dis. [Internet]. 2005; 4(6):633–642. doi: https://doi.org/bd7q4j
[5] Tajan M, Vousden KH. Dietary approaches to cancer therapy. Cancer
Cell [Internet]. 2020; 37(6):767–785. doi: https://doi.org/gmdhv3
[6] Bian X, Liu R, Meng Y, Xing D, Xu D, Lu Z. Lipid metabolism and
cancer. Journal of Experimental Medicine. [Internet]. 2021;
218(1):e20201606. doi: https://doi.org/gh9vm6
[7] Khaw K–T, Friesen MD, Riboli E, Luben R, Wareham N. Plasma
phospholipid fatty acid concentration and incident coronary
heart disease in men and women: the EPIC–Norfolk prospective
study. PLoS Med. [Internet]. 2012; 9(7):e1001255. doi: https://
doi.org/gbbh2d
[8] Rachmi CN, Agho KE, Li M, Baur LA. Stunting, underweight
and overweight in children aged 2.0–4.9 years in Indonesia:
prevalence trends and associated risk factors. PloS One.
[Internet]. 2016; 11(5):e0154756. doi: https://doi.org/gbnw92
[9] Holman RT, Johnson SB, Kokmen E. Deciencies of polyunsaturated
fatty acids and replacement by nonessential fatty acids in plasma
lipids in multiple sclerosis. Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences. [Internet]. 1989; 86(12):4720–4724. doi: https://doi.
org/dsxqcn
[10] Xu C, Zhang L, He H, Liu X, Pei X, Ma T, Zhang B. Sheep tail fat
inhibits the proliferation of non–small–cell lung cancer cells in
vitro and in vivo. Front. Pharmacol. [Internet]. 2022; 13:917513.
doi: https://doi.org/mnj7
[11] Rocha J, Chen S, Beja–Pereira A. Molecular evidence for fat–
tailed sheep domestication. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. [Internet].
2011; 43:1237–1243. doi: https://doi.org/cqjnp6