How can we improve stillbirth investigation in dairy and beef herds?

With the recent and imminent restructuring of the provision of laboratory services in England and Wales (APHA), Scotland (SAC CVS) and the Republic of Ireland (DAFM) there is now a greater need for veterinary practitioners to upskill in foetal pathology. The vast majority of carcases submitted to VI centres are from aborted foetuses, perinates and neonates. This paper is aimed at veterinary practitioners who are faced with increased client-led demand for investigation of stillbirths in their beef or dairy herds, in the absence of a local VI centre service. Specifically, it addresses the issues of what a veterinary practitioner should do when faced with a stillborn calf or consulted about a history of a herd with a stillbirth problem. A standard operating procedure (SOP) for Stillbirth Investigation is detailed. For cases where the practitioner has to examine the foetus/placenta a Stillbirth Necropsy SOP is outlined. The value of the necropsy to determine the time- and the cause-of-death is described.