Vaccination programs, parity, and calving season as factors affecting the risk of fetal losses and mummified fetuses in Holstein cows

Abstract

Aim of the study: To investigate vaccination programs, parity, and calving season as factors affecting the risk of abortion and mummified fetuses in Holstein cows. Area of study: Hot zone of Northeast Mexico. Material and methods: Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between peripartum disorders, parity, previous occurrence of abortion, season of calving, vaccination program, incidence of abortion, and mummified fetuses in Holstein cows. Main results: For 7014 pregnancies (2886 cows), the percentage of cows aborting and having mummified fetuses was 17.7% and 1.1%, respectively. As the number of brucellosis vaccinations increased, the incidence of abortion increased (10.4% for a single vaccination and 38.0% for 6 accumulated vaccinations). Abortion for cows having 1-2 previous abortions (56%) and >2 abortions (77%) was fivefold and sevenfold greater (p3 parturitions; OR=1.7, p37 dpp (OR=1.3, p20 dpp (OR=1.6, p2 previous abortions (OR=18.4, p<0.01), and calving in autumn (OR=0.4, compared to winter, p<0.05). Research highlights: Risk of abortion and mummified fetuses in Holstein cows has been found to be related to vaccination programs.

Keywords

• bovine abortion
• clostridial vaccination
• Brucella abortus RB51 vaccine
• repeated abortion
• Leptospira vaccine