Dairy cow mortality: A focus on Jejunal haemorrhage syndrome

Adult dairy cow deaths contribute significantly to the involuntary cull rate and wastage within the UK dairy industry. We undertook an analysis of all adult dairy cow post mortem examinations carried out at all eight SAC Consulting: Veterinary Services (SACCVS) Disease Surveillance Centres (DSC) across Scotland between 2008 and 2013. The most frequent diagnoses were fasciolosis followed by metritis, hypocalcaemia, traumatic reticulitis, pneumonia due to Trueperella pyogenes and Johne's disease. Jejunal Haemorrhage syndrome (JHS) was identified during the analysis as a condition that was diagnosed with increasing frequency over the five year period. A clinical summary for the veterinary practitioner of the condition, proposed aetiology, diagnosis and treatment is provided. Findings from a retrospective study of 12 cases of JHS recorded in Scotland are reported. Histological examination of the mesentery in two of the 12 cases showed evidence of vasculitis proposing that the disease process associated with JHS is initiated within the mesentery rather than the lumen of the gut as initially thought.