title: Influence of modifiable risk factors on the incidence of stillbirth/perinatal mortality in dairy cattle.
abstract: Bovine perinatal mortality is defined as the death of a full-term calf before, during or up to 48 h after calving. Recent studies indicate that the prevalence of bovine perinatal mortality is increasing, particularly in Holstein primiparae. Factors leading to a greater incidence of dystocia are the most important modifiable variables influencing the risk of perinatal mortality. Modifiable predictors are largely (age at first calving, breeding method, sire, calving management, feto-maternal health status and gestational nutrition) or moderately (calf breed, sex, gestation length) under the control of the dairy farm manager. Unlike non-modifiable risk factors, such as primiparity and fetal plurality, these factors can be manipulated to reduce the incidence of perinatal mortality.
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc, Moorepark Research Centre, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: john.mee@teagasc.ie.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mee
authors.affiliation: Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Model Farm Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Miguel
authors.affiliation: Section of Herd Health and Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Dairy cattle; Management; Perinatal mortality; Risk factors; Stillbirth