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ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ABORTIONS: What is the cost of an abortion?

  • February 5, 2021
“What is the cost of an abortion in a sheep or goat farm?” Few know how to give an accurate answer. We know it’s important, but… do we give it enough importance? This post will help you understand how important it is and how to determine the cost per farm.

 

OUT OF SIGHT…

The answer to “How much does an abortion cost us?” can be varied, but few clearly know the answer. Without it, it is impossible to answer a much more important question: “What financial impact do abortions have on their farm?”

To determine this, we need to consider two parameters: cost of each abortion and abortion rate (number abortions/total number pregnant females x 100).

Infectious abortions have a much larger economic impact due essentially to the number of affected animals and the difficulty in controlling them.

“Infectious abortions: more than 70% of the flock may be affected”

Picture 1. Outbreaks of abortion caused by infectious agents can affect many pregnant females.

WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER?

In order to determine the cost of an abortion, in meat, dairy or mixed animals, the losses they incur must be considered. There are two fundamental types:

Direct Lamb(s)/Kid(s) Dead, moribund or born weak (with poor growth)
Milk Lactation has not started or production is drastically reduced and its duration is decreased
Ill Complications during the abortion, secondary infections due to placenta retention…
Treatment Of aborted animals and/or lambs born weak
Indirect Maintenance The cost of feeding animals that abort until they enter the productive cycle again
Infertility Animals that, after abortion, have difficulties or are unable to become pregnant and need to be removed from the flock.

 

Direct losses are the only ones that are considered. Indirect losses play a crucial role, with the cost of feeding being particularly significant:

After an abortion occurs, the animal enters an unproductive period, which lasts at least 7 months (2 months to recover from the abortion plus 5 months of pregnancy).

This period may be longer, especially in flocks with only one birthing period per year or animals that have not become pregnant after a first tupping.

“After abortion, ewes enter an unproductive period that can exceed 12 months”

Picture 1. After abortion, sheep and goats enter an unproductive period that will always be more than 7 months. This period may even exceed one year in farms with a single birthing period or females that are not pregnant in the following tupping.

To calculate the economic impact that abortions have on a farm, it is imperative to perform correct data collection.

“Cost of feeding unproductive animals can reach 20% of the total cost”

Picture 2. Direct losses (lamb or kid and milk) are the only ones taken into consideration when abortions occur.

Many parameters determine the cost of an abortion, and they vary depending on the country, time of year, and even each farm. The most important ones are:

● Prolificacy
● Milk production
● Feeding cost
● Milk and lamb price

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COST

Today, cost and importance go hand in hand. The higher the cost, the greater the importance of the problem.

In countries like the United Kingdom, it is estimated that, in sheep for meat, an abortion can exceed €90. This cost is always much greater in dairy sheep, reaching a minimum cost of €300 in high-production farms.

“The cost of an abortion can exceed €300”

Nowadays, high abortion rates, seriously compromise the cost-effectiveness of sheep and goat farms.

INCOME PER BIRTH LAMB (20KG) 1,6 x 5,2 €/Kg x 20 Kg 166,4 €
UNPRODUCTIVE PERIOD COST SHEEP FEED 210 days x 0,25 €/day 52,5 €
TOTAL 219 €
COST OF “NON-DELIVERY” SHEEP FEED 210 days x 0,30 €/day -63 €
LAMB FEED -25 €
TOTAL -88 €
COST OF AN ABORTION 219 € – 88 € 131 €
Table 2. Estimated cost of an abortion in sheep for meat (Prolificacy=1.6; price per KG of lamb = €5.2; feed cost (unproductive period)=€0.25; feed cost (lactation) = €0.3).

Knowing the economic impact is the first step in being aware of its importance, and controlling and preventing said problem, to achieve the desired productive goals.

Article written by

Pablo Núñez Ulibarri. Corporate Product Manager Small Ruminants Unit – HIPRA.

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