Risk factors for umbilical hernia in Holstein heifers during the first two months after birth

摘要

Umbilical hernias are commonly identified in dairy heifers. In a study of 18 commercial dairy herds in New York, for instance, 62 of 410 (15%) heifers were reported to have had umbilical hernias during the first 3 months of life. Economic costs of umb ilical hernias include the costs of medical and surgical treatment and the loss in value for breeding animals. It is generally accepted that umbilical hernias may be inherited in a dominant (ie, a grandsire, sire, and son will all produce the condition w hen mated to unrelated females) or recessive (ie, association of calves with umbilical hernias to a particular sire is difficult) fashion. In addition, a study at 10 veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada found that the risk of umb ilical hernia among Holstein cattle was twice that for cattle of other breeds (Angus, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Charolais, Guernsey, Hereford, Jersey, and Shorthorn) On the other hand, factors other than genetics also appear to play a role in the developmen t of umbilical hernias For instance, although a relationship between umbilical hernias and umbilical infection has not been definitively established, clinical observations by veterinarians suggest that umbilical infection may lead to the development of a n umbilical hernia by slowing closure of the umbilicus.