Investigating Abortions In Cattle

This article was updated on 19/03/2026

2% or less is considered to be the “normal” abortion rate but it’s not sensible to wait until 2% of cows have aborted before collecting samples for investigation.  In cattle there are valid reasons for investigating every abortion particularly if you are breeding your own replacements.  You do not want to maintain BVD or Neospora infection in the herd.  Cows infected with Neospora may abort again and any heifer calves that are retained could abort during their first pregnancy.  Investigating all abortions can help with planning culling decisions and breeding strategies.

Consider investigating if:

• There have been 2 or more abortions in a short space of time.
• Abortions are occurring in a specific group of animals e.g. purchased replacements, animals in their first pregnancy.
• There is a need to check a vaccine is working.
• Aborting cattle are ill, scouring or dying.

Working out the cause can help to:

• Plan future vaccination programmes.
• Highlight a risk to other livestock species.
• Highlight a problem with feed.
• Highlight a risk to human health.

Heather Stevenson, heather.stevenson@sac.co.uk