Operation-management factors associated with early-postnatal mortality of US foals.

This research article examines the factors that contribute to the early postnatal mortality of newborn foals in the United States, analysing factors at an individual operation level.

Research Data and Methodology

• The study was conducted on 1,043 operations that participated in the United States National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Equine 1998 Study, accounting for 7,320 foals born alive in 1997.
• Of these born, 120 foals were reported to have died within the first two days of live birth, either by euthanasia or natural causes. This accounted for a mortality rate of 1.7% for all foals born on operations in the 28 states included in the study.

Outcome of Analysis

• The study utilized a multivariable logistic-regression model and was able to ascertain that foals born in the southern region were more likely to have reported deaths within the first 2 days of live birth compared to those born in the western region.

Operation-Level Factors Contributing to Mortality

• Several operation-level factors were associated with an increased likelihood of a foal dying within the first two days of live birth.
• These included: not routinely testing newborn foals for the adequate absorption of colostral immunoglobulins during the first 2 days of life, adding new resident equids to the operation in 1997, having non-resident equids stay on the operation for 1-30 days in 1997.
• The research also found that operations never requiring an official health certificate (for those non-resident equids on the operation for 1-30 days), using something other than straw or hay as the predominant bedding type, and feeding equids a vitamin-mineral supplement/premix with forage and/or grain, all contributed to the increased odds of foals dying within the first two days.