Bovine Abortion and Stillbirth Investigation

From Vanessa Swinson and Alan Murphy, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Cattle Expert Group

Veterinary scanning surveillance enables early detection and investigation of new or reemerging animal diseases and, helps us to understand disease patterns and trends. The APHA and SRUC diagnostic services are the cornerstone of the scanning surveillance system in Great Britain. In England and Wales this is delivered by an APHA network of Veterinary Investigation Centres and partner post-mortem providers, and in Scotland by a network of SRUC centres.

We offer post-mortem examinations and diagnostic testing, as well as advice and support, to veterinary surgeons in practice to diagnose, control and prevent disease in farm animals. A common reason for submission to the network from January to April is to investigate the cause of abortion or stillbirth in ruminant species.

For cattle, an abortion is defined as the expulsion of a calf at less than 271 days after service, or less than 265 days after implantation, whether the calf is born dead or alive. A stillborn calf is defined as having been born dead at more than 271 days of gestation, or one that dies within 24 hours of birth.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED ABORTION IN CATTLE AND HOW TO REPORT IT

It has been suggested that an abortion rate of less than 2.5% is considered acceptable in terms of physiological loss. Therefore, investigation at a rate above 2.5%, or where a cluster of abortions or stillbirths occurs in a short time-period, is advised. It is important to review and record all abortions and stillbirths on-farm. Current legislation requires anyone in charge of bovine animals to report any abortion to APHA within 24 hours, as part of brucellosis surveillance: Brucellosis: how to spot and report the disease - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Many new disease incursions into dairy and beef systems present with abortion as an initial clinical finding, so there are good reasons to consider investigating beyond statutory requirements.