[Mortality of dairy cows in an ecopathologic survey in Brittany].
Although rare, natural death in dairy cows represents a serious economical loss. In a sample of intensive dairy farms, the mean yearly mortality rate was estimated to be 0.96%. There were various causes known (metabolic, accidental, calving-related, respiratory) and unknown (1/3 of the cases). No significant annual or seasonal variation was observed, although the beginning of the grazing period seemed to be associated with a higher mortality rate. The cows with a parity of 7 or more had a higher probability of dying (mortality rate: 3.5%). The post-partum period was also associated with a higher number of deaths. The inter-herd variability was significant, with mortality rates running between 0 and 4.24%. Nutritional diseases, digestive disorders and trauma were predisposing factors of natural death.
Faye
B
B
INRA-Theix, laboratoire d'écopathologie, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Pérochon
L
L
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D003612:Dairying; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic
La mortalité des vaches laitières dans l'enquête écopathologique Bretagne.