FIELD-BASED SURGICAL CORRECTION OF CONGENITAL LABIAL FUSION IN JERSEY CROSSBRED CATTLE: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Congenital labial fusion (CLF) is a reproductive abnormality in cattle, charcaterized by occlusion of the labia majora by fibrous connective tissue. This paper reports three cases of CLF in Jersey crossbred heifers intervened at different Gewogs in Mongar Dzongkhag, between January 2024 and March 2026. All reported animals had a history of vulvar fusion from birth and experienced difficulty urinating. During clinical examination, a small residual vulvar opening of 5-10 mm in diameter was observed, urine was passing through these openings as dribbles, and the artificial insemination (AI) gun could not be passed through in any case. Surgery was performed in the standing position under xylazine and caudal epidural anesthesia with 2% lignocaine; in a locally made travis. A longitudinal incision was made through the fused labia using a hemostat as a probe to guide the incision. The mucosal edges were exposed and apposed with a non-absorbable nylon (polyamide) monofilament suture, USP size 1, in a simple interrupted pattern. Postoperatively, all animals were administered a single dose of long-acting oxytetracycline (10 mg/kg body weight, intramuscular) and meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg body weight, intramuscular) for three days, and daily wound dressing for three days with povidone iodine, followed by gamma benzene hexachloride. Uneventful wound healing was observed in all three cases, and the sutures were removed on the 10^th day. One animal showed standing heat after the 30^th day of surgery and was subsequently inseminated. None of the patients experienced postoperative complications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of CLF in Jersey crossbred cattle in Bhutan. This paper illustrates that CLF in cattle can be surgically corrected successfully by a simple surgical procedure in field settings with the help of basic equipment and locally accessible materials.