Findings in cattle consigned to Victorian knackeries between 2009 and 2018
J G Gibney1, S M Pefanis1, M J Jeffers1
1Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, 475 Mickleham Road, Attwood, Victoria, 3049, Australia.
Objective:
To describe the causes of death or culling in cattle in Victoria, Australia, through surveillance at knackeries.
Methods:
Data were collected from 2797 adult cattle consigned to four Victorian knackeries over a 10-year period (2009-2018, inclusive). Cattle were sampled either at the point of collection or at a knackery. A single best-fit diagnosis was assigned to each case to describe the cause of loss.
Results:
Sampled cattle were predominantly female dairy cattle originating from the three main dairying regions in Victoria. The most commonly diagnosed conditions were calving paralysis (6.8%), followed by mastitis (6.4%), hypocalcaemia (6.4%) and dystocia (5.9%). "Unknown" accounted for 24.2% of the cattle examined.
Conclusion:
This study provides a unique insight into the causes of death and culling in cattle consigned to Victorian knackeries. The periparturient period was identified as a high risk period for knackery consignment in adult female cattle.
