To cut or not to cut : analysis of caesarean sections in a New York state dairy herd

Abstract

Pregnancy and parturition are necessary events in the initiation of milk production in mammalian species. Unfortunately, cows are at the highest risk of breaking during this transition period from late pregnancy to early lactation. The transition cow is subject to a variety of pathologic conditions, including dystocia, retained placenta, metritis, milk fever, ketosis, mastitis, and displacement of the abomasum. The interrelated nature of these diseases cannot be overemphasized; indeed, a strong positive correlation exists between many of them. Aside from the obvious losses due to death, veterinary intervention, and medications, the above conditions decrease revenue by means of lost milk production and/or decreased reproductive performance, the full impact of which may not be realized until much later in the lactation. Dystocia, or difficulty calving, is among the more common periparturient disorders. Causes can be fetal or maternal. When repositioning or traction cannot resolve dystocia, a fetotomy or cesarean section may be considered. Compared with cows that have vaginal delivery, those that undergo cesarean section have been shown to have a higher incidence of calf mortality, a longer calving interval following surgery, lower milk production during the first 100 DIM, and a higher likelihood of being culled. This presentation will examine preliminary data for cows presented to the Teaching Hospital at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine with chief complaint of dystocia and subsequently undergoing a cesarean section. By means of DC305 records, cows from a large herd were followed post-surgery to evaluate production and reproductive parameters.