Table 4.
Cause of death | Calves, n (N=54) | Further details of cause of death | |
All (n=34) | Ad hoc (n=20) | ||
Congenital malformations | 5 | 1 | Atresia jejuni (3), schistosomus reflexus (1), complex (cleft palate, VSD, contracted tendons) (1), very low birthweight (21kg) and hypotrichosis following hydrops allantois (1). |
Intrauterine infections | 8 | 5 | Bacillus licheniformis (3), Aspergillus fumigatus (1), Aspergillus niger (1), Aeromonas hydrophila (2), Escherichia coli (1), Leptospira hardjo (1), non-specific gross or histopathology (4). |
Parturition-related (anoxia sustained during stage 2 calving) | 14 | 6 | Includes cases with specific evidence of bradytocia (9), trauma (3), malpresentation (3), twin birth (2), arthrogryposis (1) and non-specific evidence of fetal response to infection considered non-life-threatening (3). These are not mutually exclusive. |
Postpartum infections | 0 | 6 | All due to E coli; all calves more than 24 hours of age at time of death had complete failure of passive transfer (5). |
Diagnosis not reached | 5 | 2 | Time of death was recorded as prepartum (4) or intrapartum (3). |
Other | 2 | 0 | Colostrum administered into the lungs (1), abomasal rupture of unknown cause (1). |
VSD, ventricular septal defect.