title: Abortion rate during the second half of gestation of cows undergoing surgery in lateral recumbency as compared with cows of a control population.
abstract: In a retrospective study, we compared the abortion rates of 59 cows in the second half of gestation, admitted to the Clinic for Food Animals and Horses (1993-1996) with a strictly focal problem (head region, udder and teats, locomotor system) requiring surgery in lateral recumbency, to the abortion rate of a control cow population. Before surgery, a uterus relaxant was given in 42 cases, and 17 cows were untreated as to pregnancy. Cows included in the reproduction health program of the Department of Fertility and Reproduction were used as a control population. Data of 1,736 cows pregnant in the second half of gestation per year were available for the same time period (1993-1996). Abortion rate was 5.08% for the cows undergoing surgery in lateral recumbency as compared with 5.18% for the cows of the control population. There was no significant difference between the two populations (P > 0.05). Thus, the risk for abortion in the cows in question is not elevated as compared with the control population.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Food Animals and Horses, University of Bern.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hirsbrunner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knutti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eicher
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies