What causes cows aborting their calves?

[Anonymous]

We have had incidents of cows aborting their calves three months early, and premature births. This is the first year we have ever had a problem of this nature. We are in an isolated area with no neighboring cattle. The only thing we have done differently this year is we are feeding bought rye grass hay along with our own meadow hay, and we used Ivomec Plus in mid January. We start calving the first of March. Our local vet said they have seen a higher incident of this problem this year in our area. Autopsies do not show anything unusual.Any thoughts as to what may be causing this?

 

[Anonymous]

If it is a problem with others also, you may consider that the weather/growing conditions for various forages and forbes was different this past year. In this area there were plants growing and going to seed that hadn't been seen in 20 years or more. We had a strange winter (last), spring and summer with a continuation of drought. Just thoughts

dunmovin farms

> We have had incidents of cows
> aborting their calves three months
> early, and premature births. This
> is the first year we have ever had
> a problem of this nature. We are
> in an isolated area with no
> neighboring cattle. The only thing
> we have done differently this year
> is we are feeding bought rye grass
> hay along with our own meadow hay,
> and we used Ivomec Plus in mid
> January. We start calving the
> first of March. Our local vet said
> they have seen a higher incident
> of this problem this year in our
> area. Autopsies do not show
> anything unusual.Any thoughts as
> to what may be causing this?

 

[Anonymous]

Depending on what the cause is, it could be nutritional or infectious. IBR, for example, can blow 4 miles in the wind, so the cattle don't have to be too close and still can spread the virus. If you've had more than 1 abortion (and it certainly sounds like you do) I would definitely 1)send aborted calf for postmortem exam, with clean (ie straight from cow) placental membranes if possible, preferably including a caruncle 2)blood on cow at time of abortion and 2 weeks later. Test for brucellosis, lepto, IBR, BVD, anything else found in your area (akabane in Oz.....) GET A DIAGNOSIS--if nothing the first time, do it again on the next. You can't protect your herd without knowing what is causing the problem!!! Good Luck V