Calving assistance influences the occurrence of umbilical cord pathologies treated surgically in calves

Authors: CARLOS MOSCUZZA, HORACIO MILICICH, GUADALUPE ALVAREZ, BETIANA GUTIERREZ, MARIANO NAHUM

Abstract: Ninety-two umbilical pathologies were surgically treated in Holstein, Aberdeen Angus, and Polled Hereford calves, both males and females, whose ages ranged between 2 and 8 months. The pathology diagnosis was performed considering the main anatomical elements involved in the umbilical cord, the inflammation progression, and the macroscopic characteristics of injuries. The umbilical cord pathologies were related to calving characteristics. The proportion of affected umbilical cords in calves born via assisted calving (77%) was significantly higher than that observed in calves born from normal parturition. The umbilical cord pathology of highest occurrence was omphalophlebitis (53.2%). A considerable proportion of infectious diseases of the urachus was observed (29.3%). First-degree omphalophlebitis was diagnosed in a major proportion of surgical cases (30.4%) and showed significant differences in relation to the more serious pathologies of third-degree omphalophlebitis (5.4%) and third-degree omphalourachitis (5.4%). The occurrence of umbilical cord diseases treated surgically was significantly higher in assisted calving (77%) than in eutocic birth.

Keywords: Calf, omphalophlebitis, omphaloarteritis, omphalourachitis, dystocia

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