An International Delphi Study of the Causes of Death and the Criteria Used to Assign Cause of Death in Bovine Perinatal Mortality

Mee, JF; Sanchez-Míguel, Cosme; Doherty, Michael L.

doi:10.1111/rda.12139

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The diagnostic rate is similar to one previous study on beef calves where histopathology was performed on all cases as a routine, 16 but is higher than some other studies based on dairy calves where it has been as low as 50 per cent 24 . While there is no internationally accepted method for reaching or categorising diagnoses in bovine perinatal mortality, and doing so is highly complex, 26 the authors believe the methods reported here are robust and maximised the probability of an accurate diagnosis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Perinatal mortality in 23 beef herds in Orkney: incidence, risk factors and aetiology

Norquay¹,

Orr

Norquay

et al. 2020

Veterinary Record

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BackgroundPerinatal mortality in beef calves impacts on profitability and animal welfare, but the incidence and causes in UK herds are not well known.MethodsData from 11 herds were analysed to establish the risk factors for and incidence of perinatal mortality (full-term calves born dead or died within 48 hours). To establish cause of death, 23 herds in total submitted dead calves for postmortem examination (nine herds submitted all calves, 14 herds submitted calves on an ad hoc basis) and the results were reviewed by a panel.ResultsThe incidence of perinatal mortality for all 1059 calvings was 5.1 per cent (range 1.6–12.4 per cent across herds; median 4 per cent). The incidence of stillbirth and neonatal mortality was 3.9 per cent (range 0–10.1 per cent) and 1.2 per cent (range 0–2.6 per cent), respectively. Sex of the calf, plurality and level of calving assistance were associated with significantly greater risk of perinatal loss. Parturition-related deaths (n=20), intrauterine infections (n=13), congenital malformations (n=6) and postpartum infections (n=6) were among the diagnosis recorded from 54 calves investigated. Parturition-related deaths and congenital malformations were recorded more commonly from herds submitting all losses than from those submitting on an ad hoc basis.ConclusionVariation in perinatal incidence across herds exists and many fail to reach the 2 per cent target. Some significant risk factors and common causes of death identified have the potential to decrease perinatal mortality rates through improved herd management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Perinatal mortality in 23 beef herds in Orkney: incidence, risk factors and aetiology

Norquay¹,

Orr

Norquay

et al. 2020

Veterinary Record

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“…Necropsy examination can determine both the time of and the cause of death. Thus, necropsy examination is critical to the understanding of why do so many calves die [ 54 ].…”

Section: Why Do So Many Calves Die?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Do So Many Calves Die on Modern Dairy Farms and What Can We Do about Calf Welfare in the Future?

Mee

2013

Animals

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Simple SummaryHigh calf loss rates are an international welfare problem though this is often not recognised. These loss rates have increased in recent years. Improvement in calf survival rates is dependent upon re-prioritization of this problem relative to other animal health and welfare issues and creation of awareness of this prioritization. Once the problem is recognised action needs to be taken at national and at farm levels, specifically on problem farms. Data recording, research, breeding, veterinary, extension and farmer organisations all have a role to play in improving bovine neonatal survival and hence improving animal welfare in the future.AbstractPoor bovine neonatal survival rates are an international animal welfare issue. The key modifiable risk factors associated with such loss are age at first calving in primiparae, calf breed, gender and gestation length and calving management. The primary causes of mortality in the perinatal period are calving problems, in particular dystocia, defined as both difficult and abnormal calvings. Calf loss rates are rising on modern dairy farms in many countries internationally. High calf loss rates are often not recognised at national or at farm-level; recording needs to be improved. Improving bovine neonatal survival requires re-prioritization of this issue. Stakeholders need to be made cognisant of this prioritization. Actions to effect change need to occur at both national and farm-levels. National-level actions need firstly to address raising awareness of the issue. Farm-level actions need to focus on identifiable problem farms through targeted surveillance. Application of existing knowledge to alter modifiable risk factors is the key to improving calf welfare in the future. Research also has a role to play in filling knowledge gaps in particular about the ‘unexplained stillbirth’.

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“…Common COD in peristillbirths based on an international Delphi study [9] are listed in Tables 5 and 6; other uncommon causes also occur. For babies, an extensive list of COD has been codified by the WHO in ICD-PM [37].…”

Section: Cause-of-deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the educational role of veterinary diagnosticians to both veterinary practitioners and farmers can contribute substantially to improved field investigations. At an international level, the current lack of homogeneity in investigative approaches highlights the need for procedural standardisation [ 9 ]. While the focus of this review is on dairy foeto-perinatal loss, the material is equally applicable to beef foeto-perinatal loss [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of bovine abortion and stillbirth/perinatal mortality - similar diagnostic challenges, different approaches

Mee

2020

Ir Vet J

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This pracademic paper reviews current bovine foetopathy (abortion and stillbirth) case definitions, reporting and triage, and causes and time-of-death and proposes veterinary practitioner-focused investigative standard operating procedures (SOPs). Issues of under-and over-triage and intra-institutional SOP harmonisation are also discussed. It is proposed that an 'observable abortion' (120-260 days of gestation) is a more practitioner-friendly definition of abortion for reporting and benchmarking purposes and that the term 'peristillbirth' can replace stillbirth and perinatal mortality. Diagnosis of bovine foetopathy involves an investigative triad of the farmer, veterinary practitioner and the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. However, the poor sensitivity of abortion reporting undermines the value of currently adopted scanning/passive surveillance; parallel active surveillance/sentinel herd models should also be employed. The approach to abortion investigation differs from that of peristillbirth. The former should include collecting a herd and case history, examination and sampling of dam and cohorts and sampling of the foetus and placenta. A sample selection decision tree is provided to assist test selection. In peristillbirths, non-infectious and periparturient causes-of-death are more important hence the anamnesis must focus on peristillbirth risk factors and calving management. The foetopsy, while including the sampling menu appropriate to aborted foetuses, must also include a detailed internal and external examination of the carcass for lesions indicative of periparturient causes-of-death. In addition, for aborted foetuses the time-of-death is not important as the foetus is generally not viable; however, for the peristillbirth the time-of-death is critical as it provides useful information for the farmer to address modifiable risk factors and to alter their perinatal management. Reporting of the ultimate cause-of-death is more useful to prevent future abortions and peristillbirths though the proximate cause-of-death is often reported in the absence of a complete clinical anamnesis. Finally, the common reasons for diagnosis not reached (DNR) and the limitations of current investigative approaches are discussed.

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An International Delphi Study of the Causes of Death and the Criteria Used to Assign Cause of Death in Bovine Perinatal Mortality

Cited by 14 publications

References 24 publications

Perinatal mortality in 23 beef herds in Orkney: incidence, risk factors and aetiology

Perinatal mortality in 23 beef herds in Orkney: incidence, risk factors and aetiology

Why Do So Many Calves Die on Modern Dairy Farms and What Can We Do about Calf Welfare in the Future?

Investigation of bovine abortion and stillbirth/perinatal mortality - similar diagnostic challenges, different approaches

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