Cesarean section in Cows (Bovis) | Vetlexicon
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Cesarean section

ISSN 2398-2993

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Synonym(s): Surgical management of dystocia in cattle.

Introduction

  • This article describes the technique used to perform a cesarean section and discusses the decision making processes involved in determining when a cesarean section is appropriate.
  • Please be aware that this information is designed to be a useful guide for the veterinary surgeon, but is not prescriptive.  The decision making process will very much depend on the individual case and its unique circumstances.

Uses

Maternal dystocia
  • Expulsive defect:
    • Myometrial defect:
      • Primary uterine inertia (inability of the uterus to contract sufficiently).
      • Secondary uterine inertia (decreased effectiveness of uterine contractions as parturition progresses).
    • Defective or inadeqate straining.
  • Inadequate birth canal:
    • Failure of cervix, soft tissues or ligaments to relax.
    • Uterine torsion; definitely if  complete torsion (>2700).
    • Obstruction of birth canal, eg pelvic fracture.
  • Inadequate pelvic diameter*
Fetal dystocia
  • Fetal oversize:
    • Normal but large*.
    • Defective or monster calf.
  • Faulty disposition or alignment:
    • Abnormal presentation.
    • Abnormal position.
    • Abnormal posture.
  • Fetal death.
  • Signs of fetal distress.
*these two factors combined or separately can be described as fetomaternal disproportion.Elective cesarean
  • History of previous dystocia or cesarean.
  • Predictable dystocia due to breed predisposition, eg Belgian blue cattle Belgian blue cattle or misalliance, eg heifer too small when mated.

Advantages of performing the procedure

  • Increased chance of a live calf if intervention is performed early.
  • Reduced chance of secondary complications to cow, eg peripheral neuropathies.

Disadvantages

  • Cost.
  • Risk of surgical and post-surgical complications in the dam, including death.
  • May reduce subsequent fertility of dam.
  • Anesthetic depression of calf (if sedative used).

Alternative techniques

Alternative treatments for inertia

  • Manipulation of reducible malpresentations.
  • Manual traction of fetus.
  • Correction of uterine torsion.
  • Fetotomy Fetotomy/embryotomy if calf is dead.

Time required

Preparation

Assessing the situation
  • Obtain a history for the dam:
    • Expected due date?
    • Primigravida vs multigravida?
    • Problems during pregnancy?
    • When were signs of first stage labor seen?
    • What has the farmer observed since?
    • What has the farmer done so far?
    • Has the cow received any treatments?
    • What are the farmer's expectations/needs?
  • Assess dam general status.
  • Assess presentation, position and posture of calf.
  • Assess viability of calf.
  • Assess the environment for performing the procedure.
    • Safe?
    • Adequate lighting?
    • Cleanliness?
    • Good footing?
    • Area to safely restrain cow?
Once decision to perform cesarean has been made
  • Administer Epidural Epidural (if not already performed for assessment of the fetus).

Procedure

  • 30-90 minutes (for an uncomplicated cesarean, in the hands of an experienced surgeon).
  • Procedure should be performed as quickly and safely as possible.

Decision taking

Criteria for choosing test

  • Assessment of the cause of dystocia Dystocia.
  • History suggestive of fetomaternal disproportion.
  • Presence of uterine inertia.
  • Decision often a subjective assessment of the dam and calf status and experience of the veterinary surgeon.
  • Value of calf vs value of cow may play a deciding role.

Diagnosis of Dystocia

  • Hugely variable gestation lengths between breeds and sires.
  • Records not always reliable, particularly in beef systems.
  • Intervention in cows: stage two labor lasting for greater then 1 hour.
  • Intervention in heifers: No significant progress made after 30 minutes of appearance of fetal membranes.
    • There are a lot of conflicting statements in the literature, as to the normal length of stage 2 labor. Published lengths range from:
      • 1-2 hours (heifers).
      • 0.5 – 1.5 hours (cows)
    • Some sources state that normal stage 2 labor in cows should be less than an hour.
    • There is also some literature which considers that earlier intervention produces a better outcome for cow and calf.
  • General reasons for intervention:
    • Weak or infrequent abdominal straining.
    • Absence of abdominal straining.
    • Obvious fetomaternal disproportion or obstruction.
    • Signs of systemic illness.
    • Evidence of fetal death.
    • Meconium visible as vulval discharge.
The advice here reflects the author’s personal opinion and cases should be assessed on an individual basis. Emphasis should be on noticing whether the labor is progressing, over the time period in question. 

Risk assessment

  • Risk of fetal death.
  • Risk of cow death.
  • Safety of environment for performing procedure.

Requirements

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Preparation

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Technique

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Aftercare

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Outcomes

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Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

  • Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
  • Lyons N A et al (2013) Aspects of bovine caesarean section associated with calf mortality, dam survival and subsequent fertility. Vet J PubMed.
  • Newman K D (2008) Bovine caesarean section in the field. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 24, 273-293 PubMed.
  • Schultz L G et al (2008) Surgical approaches for caesarean section in cattle. Canad Vet Jour 49, 565-568 PubMed.
  • Kolkman I et al (2007) Protocol of the caesarean section as performed in daily bovine practice in Belgium. Reprod Domest Anim 42, 583-589 PubMed.
  • Newman K D & Anderson D E (2005) Cesarean section in cows. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 21, 73-100.
  • Dawson J C & Murray R (1992) Caesarean sections in cattle attended by a practice in Cheshire. Vet Rec 131, 525-527 PubMed.
  • Barkema H W et al (1992) Fertility, production and culling following caesarean section in dairy cattle. Theriogenology 38, 589-599 PubMed.
  • Cattell J H & Dobson H (1990) A survey of caesarean operations on cattle in general veterinary practice. Vet Rec 127, 395-399 PubMed.

Other sources of information

  • Raphael Guatteo, Caroline Lesort & Gwenola Touzot-Jourde (2023) Impact of Meloxicam Administration in Cows Prior to Caesarean Section on the Efficacy of Passive Immunity Transfer in Calves. Animals MDPI. 13, 37 Online
  • Hendrickson D A & Baird A N (2013) Cesarean Section in the Cow. In: Turner and McIlwraith’s Techniques in Large Animal Surgery. Wiley Blackwell. pp 258-265.
  • Fubini S L & Ducharme N G (2004) Cesarean Section. In: Farm Animal Surgery. Ed: Fathman E M. Saunders. pp 382-387.
  • Noakes D E, Parkinson T J & England G C W (2001) The caesarean operation. In: Arthur&rsqu