Abortion in beef cattle: What could be the culprit?

Jan 8, 2024
Jan 8, 2024

grazing pregnant cattle — When grazing pregnant females, management is critical to avoid nitrate toxicity and potential abortions.
Photo courtesy SDSU

Lainie Kringen-Scholtz

Tri-State Neighbor Columnist

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Lainie Kringen-Scholtz

We have been having some cases of abortion in our beef herds lately. This can be a scary ordeal because you just never know if it is only going to be a couple or if it will turn into an abortion storm.

kAm(6 =@@< 324< 2E @FC G244:?2E:@? AC@E@4@=D[ 7665[ 6?G:C@?>6?E[ H2E6C[ 6E4 ECJ:?8 E@ HC2A @FC 9625D 2C@F?5 H92E 4@F=5 36 E96 42FD6 2D H6 2H2:E 5:28?@DE:4 C6DF=ED] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 E9:?8D E92E H6 E9:?< 23@FE H96? E9:D 92AA6?D E@ @FC AC@5F46CD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mq667 42EE=6 86DE2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 2G6C286 3667 4@H :D AC68?2?E 7@C agh 52JD @C ?:?6 2?5 2 92=7 >@?E9D] pD H:E9 A6@A=6[ E96:C 86DE2E:@? :D DA=:E :?E@ E9:C5D] %96 7:CDE E9:C5 :D 36EH66? @?6 2?5 E9C66 >@?E9D[ E96 D64@?5 :D 7@FC E@ D:I >@?E9D[ 2?5 E96 E9:C5 :D D6G6? E@ ?:?6 2?5 2 92=7 >@?E9D]k^Am

kAmxE :D :>A@CE2?E H96? :?G6DE:82E:?8 23@CE:@? 42D6D E@ <?@H H96C6 E96 42EE=6 2C6 2E :? E96:C 86DE2E:@? 3642FD6 D@>6E:>6D H6 5@ ?@E 86E E@ D66 E96 76EFD]k^Am

kAm(96? H6 E2=< 23@FE 6>3CJ@?:4 =@DD[ :E :D DA=:E :?E@ 62C=J 2?5 =2E6] t2C=J 6>3CJ@?:4 =@DD @44FCD 2E `f 52JD @C =6DD 86DE2E:@? H9:49 :D 367@C6 H6 42? 6G6? 56E64E :7 E96J 2C6 3C65 2E 52J b_] {2E6 6>3CJ@?:4 =@DD @44FCD 36EH66? 52J `f 2?5 52J ca 52JD 3C65] p?JE:>6 H6 =@D6 E96 AC68?2?4J 27E6C ca 52JD 3C65 :D 4@?D:56C65 2? 23@CE:@?]k^Am

kAmpD J@F 42? D66 7C@> E96 244@>A2?J:?8 492CE[ >2?J @7 E96 :?764E:@FD 42FD6D @7 6>3CJ@?:4 =@DD 2?5 23@CE:@? 42? @G6C=2A[ H9:49 42? 4@>A=:42E6 5:28?@D:D]k^Am

Abortion risks in cattle — Submitted image

kAmkDEC@?8m}@C>2=k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmq642FD6 :? G6E6C:?2CJ >65:4:?6 H6 =:<6 E@ =:G6 :? 2 =2?5 @7 8C6JD[ J@F 92G6 E@ 4@>A2C6 J@FC J62C E@ AC6G:@FD J62CD H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 23@CE:@?D] %96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 G2C:6D 3J AC@5F46C[ ?@E 3J DE2E6[ ?@E 3J 4@F?EJ]k^Am

kAm!C@5F46CD 42? 6IA6C:6?46 2?JH96C6 36EH66? a\`_T 23@CE:@? C2E6D 2?5 36 4@?D:56C65 “?@C>2=” 7@C E92E 96C5] x? >J 6IA6C:6?46 :? @FC 2C62[ aT\dT H@F=5 36 AC6EEJ 4@>>@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}@?:?764E:@FD r2FD6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmxE :D :>A@CE2?E E@ ?@E6 E92E E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 5:776C6?E C62D@?D H9J 42EE=6 23@CE] %96C6 2C6 D6G6C2= ?@?:?764E:@FD 42FD6D DF49 2D 962E DEC6DD[ 2?J DEC6DD :? 86?6C2=[ ?:EC2E6 E@I:4:EJ[ A9JD:42= EC2F>2[ >2=?FEC:E:@? 2?5 A:?6 ?665=6 E@I:4:EJ]k^Am

kAm%96? E96C6 2C6 E96 :?764E:@FD 42FD6D H9:49 x H:== 8:G6 2 G6CJ D9@CE DJ?@AD:D @7 2 76H] p=D@[ BF:4< ?@E6i AC68?2?E H@>6? D9@F=5 ?6G6C 92?5=6 2? 23@CE65 76EFD @C A=246?E2[ 2D D@>6 @7 E96D6 @C82?:D>D 2C6 K@@?@E:4]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mq@G:?6 w6CA6DG:CFD `k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmq@G:?6 96CA6DG:CFD ` @E96CH:D6 <?@H? 2D :?764E:@FD 3@G:?6 C9:?@EC2496:E:D Wxq#[ C65?@D6X :D E96 ?F>36C @?6 G:C2= 42FD6 7@C 3@G:?6 23@CE:@?D H@C=5H:56] x7 J@FC 96C5 92D ?6G6C 366? G244:?2E65 7@C xq#[ :E 42? 42FD6 FA E@ e_T @7 E96 96C5 E@ 23@CE]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mq's'k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmq@G:?6 G:C2= 5:2CC962 G:CFD 42? 42FD6 2 G2C:6EJ @7 AC@3=6>D 7@C 3C65 42EE=6] %96 76EFD 42? 36 23@CE65[ A6CD:DE6?E=J :?764E65 @C 92G6 3:CE9 56764ED] {F4<:=J :? @FC 2C62[ H6 92G6 G244:?2E65 6?@F89 E92E q's' :D =@H @? E96 =:DE 7@C 42FD6D 3FE ?6G6C @7 E96 =:DE]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m{6AE@k^DEC@?8mk^Am

People are also reading…

Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Mitchell Tech students present research at Commodity Classic
Family closes generation gap
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Livestock sector struggles to fill labor need
C-B Charolais 40th Annual Production Sale
Agriculture will play a major role in upcoming corner crossing discussions
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
From the field to the heart: one man's mission to change how farmers talk about mental health
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Hemingford FFA grows leaders for tomorrow

kAm%96C6 2C6 D6G6C2= D6C@G2CD @7 =6AE@DA:C@D:D E92E 42? 42FD6 23@CE:@? :? 42EE=6] (:=5=:76 @C :?764E65 42EE=6 D965 E9:D @C82?:D> E9C@F89 E96:C FC:?6 H9:49 D@>6E:>6D 6?5 FA :? E96 H2E6C] (96? ?2ïG6 2?:>2=D 5C:?< E96 H2E6C[ E96J 42? 364@>6 :?764E65] %9:D 5:D62D6 :D K@@?@E:4 D@ 92?5=6 23@CE65 E:DDF6D H:E9 42C6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mqCF46==2 23@CEFDk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm“q2?8’D 5:D62D6” :D 2 324E6C:F> E92E H6 92G6 H@C<65 C62==J 92C5 E@ 6C25:42E6 :? @FC 3667 96C5D] xE :D 9:89=J 4@?E28:@FD 2?5 EC62E>6?E :D ?@E 67764E:G6] %96 C62D@? H9J H6 G244:?2E6 96:76CD 367@C6 E96J 4@F=5 364@>6 AC68?2?E :D 3642FD6 :7 J@F G244:?2E6 2 AC68?2?E 96:76C H:E9 q2?8’D[ E96J 4@F=5 23@CE] x7 E9:D 23@CE:@? C6DF=ED :? 2 5JDE@4:2[ :E :D 52?86C@FD E@ E96 A6CD@? 96=A:?8 E96 4@H @C 96:6C 3642FD6 @7 :ED K@@?@E:4 ?2EFC6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m':3C:@k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr2>AJ=@324E6C 76EFD DF3DA64:6D G6?6C62=:D 2<2 G:3C:@ @C 42>AJ :D 2 324E6C:F> E92E @?=J :?764ED 42EE=6[ 42FD:?8 :?76CE:=:EJ 2?5 23@CE:@?D] %96 4CJAED @7 E96 3F==’D A6?:D 2?5 AC6AF46 2C6 E96 AC:>2CJ C6D6CG@:C 7@C E9:D 5:D62D6 H:E9 EC2?D>:DD:@? 36:?8 G6?6C62= 2E 2=>@DE `__T C6DF=E:?8 :? 2? 23@CE:@? C2E6 FA E@ d_T]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw:DE@A9:=FD D@>?:k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmw:DE@A9:=FD 42FD6D 2? :?7=2>>2E:@? @7 E96 G28:?2 2?5 FE6CFD C6DF=E:?8 :? 23@CE:@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m{:DE6C:@D:Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm{:DE6C:2 >@?@4JE@86?6D :D 2 324E6C:F> E92E 42FD6D DA@C25:4 23@CE:@?] %96 23@CE:@? C2E6 :D?’E 2D 9:89 2D @E96C A2E9@86?D 2E @?=J `dT] r2EE=6 364@>6 :?764E65 H:E9 =:DE6C:2 7C@> A@@C D:=286[ 2=E9@F89 :E 42? 2=D@ =:G6 :? E96 D@:=[ 3:C5 7646D 2?5 =:G6DE@4< >2?FC6] p3@CE65 E:DDF6D 282:? ?665 E@ 36 92?5=65 G6CJ 42C67F==J]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m$2=>@?6==2k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 >2?J $2=>@?6==2 D6C@EJA6D E92E 92G6 366? D9@H? E@ 42FD6 23@CE:@?[ 5:2CC962[ 76G6C 2?5 G28:?2= 5:D492C86] p3@CE:@? :D @7E6? E:>6D DA@C25:4 2?5 :D >@C6 =:<6=J E@ @44FC :? E96 DF>>6C 2?5 72==] %9:D A2E9@86? :D K@@?@E:4]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%C:49k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%C:EC:49@>@?2D 7@6EFD :D 2 AC@E@K@2? E92E :D DAC625 G6?6C62==J] p3@CE:@? C2E6D 42? 36 2D 9:89 2D b_T] %9:D :D E96 5:D62D6 H6 2C6 E6DE:?8 7@C H96? H6 E2<6 AC6AF4:2= D2>A=6D 7C@> ?@?G:C8:? 3F==D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}6@DA@C2 42?:?F>k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAms@8D 2?5 4@J@E6D D965 E9:D A2E9@86? :? E96:C 7646D] r2EE=6 D6CG6 2D E96 :?E6C>65:2E6 9@DE] x7 2 5@8 62ED E96 23@CE65 76E2= E:DDF6[ :E H:== C6DF=E :? E96 5@8 D9655:?8 >2DD 2>@F?ED @7 }6@DA@C2 :? E96 7646D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m$2C4@4JDE:Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%9:D AC@E@K@2? :D 2=D@ D965 :? 42?:?6 7646D] s@8D H:== 6IA6C:6?46 2 D:8?:7:42?E :?4C62D6 :? D9655:?8 :7 E96J C646?E=J 2E6 :?764E65 23@CE65 76E2= E:DDF6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8muF?82=k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmuF?82= 23@CE:@?D EJA:42==J @44FC :? E96 E9:C5 EC:>6DE6C 2?5 42? 42FD6 FA E@ `_T @7 42EE=6 E@ 23@CE :7 6IA@D65] &DF2==J 42EE=6 2C6 6IA@D65 E@ >@=5J 3655:?8 @C 92J :? H9:49 E96J 3C62E96 :? E96 DA@C6D @C 62E E96 DA@C6D H9:49 E96? 6?E6C E96 3=@@5DEC62>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr@?4=FD:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 >2?J C62D@?D H9J 42EE=6 23@CE 2?5 7:?5:?8 2? 2?DH6C 42? 36 EC:4<J] (@C< 4=@D6=J H:E9 J@FC G6E6C:?2C:2? E@ 7:?5 E96 C:89E G244:?2E:@? AC@E@4@= 7@C J@FC 96C5 2?5 4@==64E E96 D2>A=6D E92E H:== 8:G6 J@F E96 36DE C6DF=ED :7 23@CE:@? :D @44FCC:?8 :? J@FC 96C5 2E 2 9:896C C2E6 E92? J@FC ?@C>2=]k^Am

Lainie Kringen-Scholtz, DVM, is owner of True North Veterinary Health and associate at Big Sioux Veterinary Care. Reach her at truenorthveterinaryhealth@gmail.com or PO Box 117, Wentworth, SD 57075.