India is a developing nation that still relies on an agrarian economy. Dairy farming and agriculture continue to stay at the epicenter of the nation’s growth and the progress sector. Indians have a connection with India’s rich history and culture where cows and cattle are given importance as they support many households through milk, milk products and contribute to farming as well in the form of farming aid. The dairy industry is one of the leading industries that contribute to the Indian economy. Despite the pandemic, the dairy industry was on the boom and continued to increase our nation’s GDP with around 4.2% of total GDP. The sector continues to grow annually at 4.9% which is a good indicator of economic growth. According to the latest research conducted the total value of the dairy sector of India reached a value of 11,357 billion in the year 2020. There is a symbiotic environment where the milk animals provide farmers with milk and the farmers provide them with facilities and care. Taking care of the farmers is an important step for avoiding abortion. Abortion is both a physically and mentally difficult process for the cattle and the farmer. Let us understand the abortion, cause-effect and the outcomes, measures for the same.
Abortion – It refers to the termination of pregnancy after the organogenesis is complete but before the expelled fetus can survive. It is the loss of the embryo during the pregnancy which is not a favorable event and it does have a wide variety of reasons which culminate into the unfortunate event.
Reasons – It can be divided into two broad categories
1. Infectious Causes – It refers to the different bacterial and viral pathogens which infect the body triggering the disease process. There is a wide range of bacterial and viral agents which propagate and affect the reproductive tract leading to reproductive tract-related diseases and conditions such as reproductive failure, localized infections, and abortion in pregnant cattle.
vBlue Tongue Virus – caused by Orbivirus having 24 serotypes this virus is transmitted via biting midges such as cullicoides spp. Abortion, mummification of the foetus, the birth of a live foetus with severe CNS malformations, and stillbirth are common features of this.
vBVD Virus (Bovine viral Diarrhoea) – BVDV or bovine viral diarrhea virus is one of the most common agents causing an abortion in cattle. It is transmitted in several ways – Transmitted via the placenta, transmitted via fomites, transmitted via direct contact with an infected animal. The virus can be transmitted via the placenta to the growing fetus, it can cause fetal death and abortion, malformed fetus, stillbirth, or some cows may even deliver the fetus despite being infected. When infected during the organogenesis process it can cause serious developmental anomalies such as cerebellar hypoplasia, hydrodephalus, spinal cord hypoplasia, etc.
vBrucella – This bacterium – brucellabortus is quite active bacteria and abortion is the prime feature. This is a zoonotic disease also. The organisms enter via the mucous membranes and tend to invade the uterus, triggering inflammation of the placenta in the pregnant animal which may be acute or chronic. Abortion occurs at around 2 weeks to 5 months after infection.
vCampylobacter – the bacteria which causes venereal diseases and tends to cause abortion, stillbirth between 4-8 months of pregnancy is transmitted by ingestion and subsequently spread via the blood to the placenta. This is one of the diseases having zoonotic nature.
vOther infectious agents causing abortion – Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Chlamydia, leptospira, listeria, fungi such as TRichomonas, Neurospora, etc.
2. Non- Infectious causes – The reasons which can directly or indirectly cause abortion like Genetic variation. Some cattle carry lethal genes which can cause early embryonic death of abortion. Nutritional deficiency can cause a variety of disorders and reproductive tract dysfunction including reproduction failure. Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Selenium, and iron have a crucial role to play in reproductive health and have been implicated in cases of abortion. The environment also plays a key role in health overall. The atmosphere temperature as well as a reason like excessive heat or cold can trigger stress. Trauma or accidents too may cause abortion despite the embryo being well protected by fetal membranes. The ingestion of toxic plants or pesticides or herbicide-laden plants can essentially trigger a series of ill- effects including severe health complications for the cow and the fetus. For example, cmycotoxins having estrogenic activity may lead to abortion.
Diagnostics
There should be the regular observation of the pregnancy progression despite being artificially inseminated or mated. There are tests such as per- rectal examination, Ultra-sonography, or mate. There are tests such as rectal examination, ultra- sonography technique which can be adopted by the veterinarian depending upon the case and need of the hour. Checking blood progesterone levels too can help in establishing the diagnosis. In case abortion has not been observed failure of conception or failure to observe pregnancy progression continues to be the top indicator of some ongoing reproductive tract-related disorders which need to be promptly checked.
Treatment –
This event is difficult for both farmers as well as cattle. It is important to shift the focus on 2 things – to offer the utmost care and provide the utmost medical assistance.
1. Offering utmost care – if the cattle are selected to breed and conceived, proper care must be taken right from the time of conception. The proper nutrition, regular vaccine, etc. should be prioritized a few weeks to a month before mating as it helps the body prepare for a well and pregnancy is smoother than anticipated. The cattle who are pregnant must be protected from infectious animals. They must be well fed to prevent them from grazing out and eating random plants which may or may not be toxic. For the recently aborted cattle, proper veterinary help must be sought out to help plan the next steps. i.e treating the cause of abortion and helping the cattle out to prepare them for future conception.
2. Providing Medical Assistance – Medical assistance is not limited to the medicine or drugs also involves other parameters such as nutrition, supplements, etc. the medicine should have a 360-degree approach and it consists of lifestyle alterations as well as certain changes in feeding habits. The diet has to be fixed and proper nutrition and vitamins are to be provided for the smooth pregnancy period. The cattle should properly be hydrated for the fetus. The carbohydrates, fats, essential fatty acids, minerals like iron are important in the reproductive health of the cattle.
The Goel Vet Pharma Abortigo is the cattle homeopathic medicine is an advanced Homeopathic Veterinary Medicinal formulation for calving animals to prevent and treat abortions of any underlying cause without any side effects or contraindications and helps in retaining uterine tonicity by stimulating hormones and nourishing the uterine muscles through the increased metabolism of calcium and other minerals. It is also a preventive medicine for habitual abortions by increasing immunity against all major infectious diseases which threaten the life of the fetus and also the mother.
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