Calving assistance infuences the occurrence of umbilical cord pathologies treated surgically in calves

Abstract

Ninety-two umbilical pathologies were surgically treated in Holstein, Aberdeen Angus, and Polled Hereford calves, both malesand females, whose ages ranged between 2 and 8 months. The pathology diagnosis was performed considering the main anatomicalelements involved in the umbilical cord, the infammation progression, and the macroscopic characteristics of injuries. Te umbilicalcord pathologies were related to calving characteristics. The proportion of afected umbilical cords in calves born via assisted calving(77%) was signifcantly higher than that observed in calves born from normal parturition. The umbilical cord pathology of highestoccurrence was omphalophlebitis (53.2%). A considerable proportion of infectious diseases of the urachus was observed (29.3%). First-degree omphalophlebitis was diagnosed in a major proportion of surgical cases (30.4%) and showed signifcant diferences in relationto the more serious pathologies of third-degree omphalophlebitis (5.4%) and third-degree omphalourachitis (5.4%). The occurrence ofumbilical cord diseases treated surgically was signifcantly higher in assisted calving (77%) than in eutocic birth.