Reporting all cattle abortions and stillbirths

The key causes of abortions are as follows.

1. Infectious

• Viral diseases such BVD, IBR, and Schmallenberg (and Bluetongue)
• Bacterial diseases such as salmonellosis
• Protozoal disease such as neosporosis

2. Non-infectious

• Genetic diseases and defects
• Environment – for example heat stress
• Feed – fungal and listerial abortions are usually associated with feed spoilage
• Trauma – cast or down cow

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Wear PPE if handing the foetus, placenta, and cow; and ensure minimal/careful contact with humans until a diagnosis is reached.

Then separate the foetus and the cow from the rest of the herd to protect them from potential infection spread.

Keep the foetus and placenta separate and in a cool area so they are protected from farm dogs and foxes until they are submitted for investigation.

It is advisable to contact your vet to arrange for them to collect the samples and submit them to testing centres.

Reporting must be done to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in England, Scotland and Wales and DAERA in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland – disease investigation is carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) with two centres that carry out investigations. 
Find more information here:

https://www.afbini.gov.uk/contacts/afbi-stormont

https://www.afbini.gov.uk/contacts/afbi-omagh

https://www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/general-information#toc-4

   Tissue samples

Keep the following materials for testing to improve the chances of a diagnosis for abortions that take place after six months of pregnancy:

1. Whole foetus
2. Placenta and foetal membranes including cotyledon where possible
3. Samples of mouldy feed or silage

   Blood samples

   Samples taken from the dam help identify what your dam has been exposed to, or not exposed to.

This is also of great significance prior to 6 months of pregnancy, where testing of the foetus can be less rewarding.

To find nation specific sampling guidance view the links below – remember veterinary staff at your local centre will be happy to discuss cases:

• England and Wales –  sub-handbook.pdf (defra.gov.uk)
• Scotland https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/veterinary-laboratory-services/veterinary-diagnostics/general-sampling-advice/
• NI: Submission Information for Vets | Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (afbini.gov.uk)

How soon should samples be sent to testing centres?

If you are submitting tissues for sampling, they should ideally be sent, collected, or dropped off within 24 hours of finding the foetus to improve the chances of a successful diagnosis.

It is still worthwhile submitting tissues outside of this period because valuable information can still be obtained.

• Scotland https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/veterinary-laboratory-services/veterinary-diagnostics/sending-samples/
• England and Wales APHA Vet Gateway: Submission forms (defra.gov.uk)
• NI https://www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/general-information#toc-4

Firstly, make sure the samples are kept cool and if this is not possible, take them to your vet who can collect, store, and submit the samples.

The following steps will help ensure a safe and secure sampling procedure:

1. Wear PPE; at the minimum gloves, mask and plastic aprons.
2. Place samples in clean, sealable containers for example supplement tubs or a bucket with a lid.
3. Wrap containers in double bags – bin bags or clean feedbags and then seal with clips/tape to avoid any spillage.

• England and Wales Scanning Surveillance network in England and Wales (defra.gov.uk)
• NI https://www.afbini.gov.uk/contacts/afbi-stormont or https://www.afbini.gov.uk/contacts/afbi-omagh
• Scotland https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/veterinary-laboratory-services/veterinary-diagnostics/sending-samples/

All abortions must be reported, and should be investigated.

An abortion rate of 2% or less of the herd is considered within normal limits but waiting for this threshold of cows to abort before investigating, poses a risk to future herd health, and potentially to those in contact with your animals, and could risk greater financial loss.

You are strongly urged to report every abortion as you find it to reduce wider impact – don’t wait for an abortion storm to occur before reporting.

A general cost of abortion is complex to ascertain because you have the cost of the lost calf, the potential of a disease or virus spreading throughout the herd, possible other clinical signs and production losses, the cost of the failed pregnancy (for example cow feed wastage), and the cost of replacing lost animals to maintain the herd numbers.

RH&W experts highlight that all abortion insights prove valuable for you for planning and protecting your herd for the future.

Abortion testing usually comes as a package. Find costs of testing and further information here:

• NI https://www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/submission-information-vets
• England and Wales – Disease Surveillance Tests (vla.gov.uk) (use test code TC0015)
• Scotland https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/veterinary-laboratory-services/veterinary-diagnostics/test-and-price-lists/

Find out about the current disease status in your nation to find out the prevalence of abortion causing diseases.

GB – follow quarterly cattle abortion trends and reports here: Cattle: GB disease surveillance and emerging threats reports – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Scotland – view surveillance news and reports here: Scottish Government Veterinary Services Programme | SRUC

NI – read quarterly diagnostic reports here: Quarterly diagnostic reports (animal disease surveillance reports) | Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (afbini.gov.uk)