Perinatal death in production animals in the Nordic countries – incidence and costs

Abstract

Introduction In animal recording systems for cattle, perinatal death is divided into a) abortion: before 210 days of pregnancy (Finland) or 20 days before expected birth (Norway), b) born dead: dead calf after 210 of pregnancy (or before 20 days before expected birth) or died before 24 hours after birth, c) dead before identity marked: calves died later than 24 hours after birth, but before they are individually marked, and finally d) dead later as young calf in the preweaning age. For sheep, which have a birth season, the perinatal death is also given by stillbirth, death during indoor season and at spring pasture. Later death will be death on pasture. For goats there exist figures for abortion, stillbirth, dead before identity marked, and dead before preweaned similar to cattle. For piglets perinatal death is usually given as number of stillborn per litter, and percent dead piglets before weaning.