A preliminary study on dystocia in local breed Iraqi cattle

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One hundred and sixteen cows of local Iraqi breeds (Karadi and Sharabi), aged 3–6 years old and suffering from dystocia, were brought by farmers to the Obstetric Section, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Iraq, during the period April 1983–July 1987. The dystocia represented a proportional morbidity (relative to other periparturient obstetric cases) of 13.3% ( 116 872 ) . A higher frequency of dystocia was observed in the Karadi than in the Sharabi breed. The results showed that 68.1% of the cows had a foetal dystocia, while 31.9% had dystocia of maternal origin. Calves in the anterior presentation caused dystocia in ∼ 51.7%, while those in the posterior presentation formed 16.3%, and uterine inertia occurred in 6% of the cases. Cows having male calves formed 65.5% of the cases, while those having female calves formed 34.5%. Perinatal calf mortality was seen in 52.5% of the foetuses, while the mortality rate of the cows was 1.7%. Morbidity was observed more frequently in young animals of 3 years of age and at the first parturition. Dystocia was observed more frequently during autumn and winter than in the other seasons. Although several methods of treatment have been tried, correction and manual traction was, in the opinion of the authors, the most reliable method of treatment, especially when performed as early as possible. Foetotomy was the treatment of second choice.