Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the viability of calves born by dystocia in Algeria. Out of 3060 calving followed, the average rate of dystocia recorded was 6.9 per cent (n=212). Among the 212 calves born by dystocia, 47.6 per cent died (n=101) at the time of parturition or 24 h after and 52.4 per cent survived (n=111). Several factors significantly influenced the viability of calves such as foetal sex (FS) (p<0.001), body condition score (BCS) of the cow (p<0.05), body weight of calves (BW) at birth (p<0.01), timing of intervention (TI) (p<10^-8), type of dystocia (poor presentations PP: p<0.05 and no cervical dilatation NCD: p=0.05) and type of intervention (manual: p<0.001, fetotomy of dead calves: p<0.01 and culling of cows: p<0.005).This demonstrates the losses that can be caused by dystocia and that often these losses are due to the lack of follow-up and poor management of the farms. Education of farm management and personnel in strategies to reduce dystocia and its effect on calf and dam health should be a priority according to the results of this study.

Keywords : Calving difficulty, Stillbirth, Viability