Incidence of long bone fracture in bovine
Author(s): M Muthuraman, S Dharmaceelan, S Kathirvel, A Kumaresan, S Kokila and S Arivubalagan
Abstract: Fractures in dairy animals, especially cattle and buffaloes, are a major concern in large animal orthopedic practice, leading to significant economic losses. The present study was conducted at the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, from April 2024 to March 2025, to evaluate the occurrence and pattern of long bone fractures in bovines. Out of 8,844 large animal clinical cases, 1,877 (21.22%) were bovine, of which 89 (4.74%) were orthopaedic cases. Out of 89 orthopaedic cases in cattle, 80 (89.89%) were of long bone fractures. The highest incidence was recorded in Jersey crossbred cattle (67.5%), followed by non-descript breeds (23.75%) and buffaloes (3.75%). Most fractures occurred in animals below one year of age (56.25%) and were more common in females (73.75%). Metacarpal and metatarsal fractures predominated, mainly due to falls (50%) and vehicular accidents (28.75%). Open fractures were more frequent (61.25%) than closed ones. The findings highlight the need for improved preventive management and emphasize the efficacy of biological osteosynthesis in bovine fracture stabilization and recovery.
