CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS IN NEWBORN BEEF-CALVES EXPERIENCING MILD-TO-MODERATE DEGREES OF DYSTOCIA

Abnormal labor or parturition, dystocia, may be the most common cause of neonatal beef calf death. Dystocia can result in metabolic acidosis , elevated circulating lactate concentrations, fluxes in circulating g lucose concentrations, hypothermia, or even death. While the effects o f severe dystocia are well documented, the metabolic consequences asso ciated with less severe dystocia are unclear. Dystocia can be decrease d by managing breeding stock to minimize its occurrence. Efforts to im prove calf survival can also be directed at management of a calf affec ted by dystocia. Effective management strategies should specifically a ddress the expected effects of dystocia and thus enhance health and pe rformance. This study used arterial blood gas values and markers of an aerobic metabolism to assess the effects of mild to moderate dystocia.