Windhoek plagued by abortions
With a large number of cattle abortions reported in the Windhoek district, authorities are scrambling to find out what the causes are.
Large numbers of cattle abortions have recently been reported in the Windhoek district.
These reports originate from various farms, with losses ranging from five to 45 and even 128 on certain farms. It is suspected that the incidences of these abortions occur wider than expected.
According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), numerous samples have been submitted to the Windhoek Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) as well as to Onderstepoort and PathCare, in South Africa. Thus far only the bacterium Enterococcus casseliflavus has been identified, which is not known to cause abortions. Tests for other known venereal diseases have been negative thus far.
Although most of the abortions that were reported have taken place between three to six months, there were also reports of older calves aborted. It seems that symptoms vary, but one is the presentation of high fever in the cow shortly before aborting.
Abortion is usually defined as the production of one or more calves between 50 and 270 days of gestation; with calves being born dead or surviving for less than 24 hours. On a practical basis most abortions occurring during the second and third month go undetected until the cow fails to calve or returns to heat, so abortion rates are usually calculated from cattle that abort from 120 days onwards.
Most herds have an abortion rate of around 1 to 2%, so a single abortion is no cause for alarm.
According to the NAU, government and private veterinarians are working closely together to identify the cause of these abortions. “As much as possible information is needed and it is crucial to report any incidents of cattle abortions to the CVL or veterinarians.”
For proper diagnosis at the laboratory, farmers are urged to wrap the aborted foetus and afterbirth in a plastic or any waterproof container and refrigerate or keep in a cool place, but do not freeze.
This sample can be taken to the nearest veterinary office or straight to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Windhoek.
ELLANIE SMIT
These reports originate from various farms, with losses ranging from five to 45 and even 128 on certain farms. It is suspected that the incidences of these abortions occur wider than expected.
According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), numerous samples have been submitted to the Windhoek Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) as well as to Onderstepoort and PathCare, in South Africa. Thus far only the bacterium Enterococcus casseliflavus has been identified, which is not known to cause abortions. Tests for other known venereal diseases have been negative thus far.
Although most of the abortions that were reported have taken place between three to six months, there were also reports of older calves aborted. It seems that symptoms vary, but one is the presentation of high fever in the cow shortly before aborting.
Abortion is usually defined as the production of one or more calves between 50 and 270 days of gestation; with calves being born dead or surviving for less than 24 hours. On a practical basis most abortions occurring during the second and third month go undetected until the cow fails to calve or returns to heat, so abortion rates are usually calculated from cattle that abort from 120 days onwards.
Most herds have an abortion rate of around 1 to 2%, so a single abortion is no cause for alarm.
According to the NAU, government and private veterinarians are working closely together to identify the cause of these abortions. “As much as possible information is needed and it is crucial to report any incidents of cattle abortions to the CVL or veterinarians.”
For proper diagnosis at the laboratory, farmers are urged to wrap the aborted foetus and afterbirth in a plastic or any waterproof container and refrigerate or keep in a cool place, but do not freeze.
This sample can be taken to the nearest veterinary office or straight to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Windhoek.
ELLANIE SMIT
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