Factors associated with the risk of dystocia in the Romanian Spotted cows

Radu Ionel Neamt, Ludovic Toma Cziszter, Florin Cristian Neciu, Gheorghe Saplacan, Ciprian Valentin Mihali, Alexandru E. Mizeranschi, Silviu Ilie Saplacan, Andreea Stefania Anton, Daniela Elena Ilie

Abstract: The current study aimed to identify and quantify the detrimental impact that farm efficiency strategies, continuously used, exert on dystocia risk in Romanian Spotted dual purpose herds. In this respect, data aimed calving ease, twinning and calves body weight at birth were recorded between January 2020 and November 2022. The average incidence of twinning (T) was 6.28%, based on an upward trend in the subsequent study years (from 5.22% to 6.53%, p≤0.05). The same tendency was recorder related to the calves’ body weight at birth (CBW), with average values of
38.12 kg, 40.6 and 41.14 kg respectively for the study years (p≤0.05). Analysing the incidence of dystocia (D) over time, suggested an increasing trend, as reflected by average thresholds of 5.97%, 6.34%, and 6.54% respectively, within the three years of the study. The mitigation of the intensity in increasing in T and CBW, resulted in a decreased incidence of D in herds, demonstrating the strong correlation between these three parameters included in the study. In conclusion, the economic efficiency of the farm by increasing T or CBW, leads to an increase in D, with its negative effects at the productive, reproduction, welfare and animals health status.

Keywords: dual purpose breed; dystocia risk; influential factors; welfare

Citation: Neamt, R. I., Cziszter,, L. T., Neciu, F. C., Saplacan, Gh., Mihali, C. V., Mizeranschi, A. E., Saplacan, S. I., Anton, A. S. & Ilie, D. E. (2025). Factors associated with the risk of dystocia in the Romanian Spotted cows. Bulg. J. Agric.
Sci., 31(3), 605–610.

Date published: 2025-06-24