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Risk factors for dystocia in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Author(s) -
AUDIGÉ L,
WILSON PR,
MORRIS RS
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2001.tb12013.x
Subject(s) - ice calving , herd , cervus elaphus , grazing , pregnancy , cow calf , zoology , obstetrics , biology , medicine , veterinary medicine , lactation , ecology , genetics
Objective To analyse data from a study of deer herd health and productivity to identify potential risk factors for the occurrence of dystocia. Design A 2‐year longitudinal observational study of 14 red deer farms was carried out in New Zealand. About 2700 hinds were monitored each year for individual characteristics including body condition score (BCS), and reproductive performance. Grazing and calving management practices were recorded. During calving, farmers recorded calving difficulties (dystocia) that needed human assistance or caused the death of the hind. Risk factors potentially affecting the occurrence of dystocia were identified and analysed by multivariable statistical techniques. Results The percentage of hinds with dystocia was 0.52% (95% CI 0.32 to 0.78). Hinds with a post‐winter BCS over 3.5 were 2.7 times as likely to experience dystocia as hinds scoring 3.5 or less. Given the same BCS class, bodyweight gain in late pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of dystocia. Grazing steep paddocks in the last trimester of pregnancy decreased the risk of dystocia in hinds with a BCS over 3.5. Conclusions The risk of dystocia on red deer farms may be reduced if key individual animal, management and environmental factors are optimal.