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Farmers are urged to promptly and thoroughly report and investigate all instances of abortion and stillbirth to maintain a robust and productive herd. This reminder comes from the Ruminant Health and Welfare (RH&W) group as the autumn calving season commences.
For further reading, refer to: Strategies for Minimizing Abortion Risks in Cattle
Common Causes of Abortion in Cattle
- Infectious Agents: Notable pathogens include Neospora caninum, Salmonella Dublin, and Trueperella pyogenes.
- Environmental Factors: The bacterium Bacillus licheniformis is a significant environmental contributor to abortion.
- Both Bluetongue and Schmallenberg diseases are concerning as they are showing increasing trends in late-term abortion cases.
To protect herd health and comply with legal requirements for notifying authorities, RH&W has compiled a set of guidelines.
- Collect placentas and arrange for the immediate collection of abortion samples to send to a surveillance testing facility to identify the cause and eliminate other herd health risks, even if you have a suspected cause.
- Evaluate the health status of the herd, including the risks, prevalence, and immunity to help identify potential threats and enhance trade understanding.
- Report abortions promptly to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in England, Scotland, and Wales, or the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, as this is mandated by law.
- Implement Protection measures by isolating affected animals to minimize disease transmission risk. Use personal protective equipment for individuals handling aborted fetuses and consider other control strategies, such as vaccination.
- Protect staff from zoonotic diseases. The investigation of abortion cases can reveal risks to personnel interacting with the herd.
Identifying the Cause
Colin Mason, a veterinary investigation officer at Scotland’s Rural College’s Dumfries surveillance center, emphasized the importance of investigating every abortion or stillbirth on the farm to ascertain the underlying cause.
“Once pregnancy is confirmed, particularly in the later stages, it is expected that a healthy calf will be delivered at term. If this does not occur, it is considered an unforeseen event that warrants investigation as part of your health management plan with your veterinarian,” he stated.
Additional resources from RH&W can be found at: ruminanthw.org.uk
SOURCE
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.
