Bovine Dystocia

Abstract

The thesis is a detailed review of the extensive literature pertaining to the important subject of bovine dystocia. Approximately one thousand references have been reviewed covering chiefly the period from 1828 until the present time. The origins of the early British journals and details of the persons involved in their establishment are briefly discussed. Until the year 1932 the subject matter is for the most part confined to the British literature but after that date coverage has been expanded to include world-wide sources. The importance and content of the early textbooks is emphasised.Chapters are devoted to the incidence and causes of bovine dystocia and emphasis is placed on the severe and often avoidable consequences of the condition. The endocrinological and physiological aspects of normal birth are discussed and serve as a useful comparison with dystocia. Subsequent chapters discuss the individual causes of maternal and foetal dystocia. Special attention is paid to the particular problems of foetal oversize and of assessing the likelihood of successful vaginal delivery.In the latter parts of the thesis further consideration is given to methods of foetal delivery in cases of dystocia. The general approach to a case is discussed and methods of manipulative delivery and surgical delivery by embryotomy and caesarean section are reviewed. The importance of good after-care is stressed. In each chapter the author has drawn upon his experience in general and referral practice to comment upon and to amplify the subject matter. The thesis is profusely illustrated with photographs which include sequences of normal and assisted birth together with examples of current and historical instruments.The gradual development" and advancement of knowledge in the field of bovine dystocia should logically have resulted in a much lower incidence of the condition. The means for its prevention or early detection and satisfactory treatment are available but there is evidence that both incidence and losses through foetal stillbirth have increased. In discussion the author attributes the apparent anomaly to economic pressures arising from high calf values and the high cost of providing good supervision of the parturient cow. He questions whether there is any way in which the important welfare aspects of the problem can be made to outweigh economic pressures.