The occurrence of schistosomus reflexus in bovine dystocia

The occurrence of schistosomus reflexus as a cause of bovine dystocia in south western Victoria is described. Examination of records made by 21 veterinarians during a 20-year period (1966 to 1985) showed that of 6901 cases of bovine dystocia attended, 90 (1.3%) were caused by schistosomus reflexus. Most cases (56.7%) were treated by embryotomy, 25.6% by caesarean section and 3.3% by simple traction. Treatment of the remaining 14.4% of cases was not completed and was considered hopeless, mainly because of the emphysematous condition of the foetus and the toxic condition of the cow, which gave a poor prognosis. Some of these hopeless cases were sent to slaughter, but most were euthanased by the attending veterinarian. Sixty-nine (76.7%) of the patients were cows and 21 (23.3%) were heifers. Seventy-two (80%) were dairy breeds and 18 (20%) were beef breeds. Jersey was the main dairy breed (63.8%) and Hereford the dominant beef breed.