Ruminants

Retained Placenta in Cows: Causes, Prevention, and Management

Retained Foetal Membrane (RFM) is a common reproductive issue in cows, particularly in dairy herds. It occurs when the placenta is not expelled within 24 hours after calving, leading to potential health complications and fertility challenges. Understanding the causes, risk factors, and management strategies can help improve herd health and reproductive efficiency.

Causes and Risk Factors

Most cows naturally expel the placenta within six hours post-calving, but when retention occurs beyond this timeframe, it can be classified as RFM. The condition is more prevalent in dairy herds. Key risk factors include:

Calving Difficulties: Cows that experience dystocia, premature birth, twin pregnancies, or abortion are at higher risk of RFM.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals such as selenium, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and zinc contribute to increased cases of retained placenta.
Metabolic Disorders: Conditions like milk fever and ketosis have been associated with RFM, especially in older cows with subclinical calcium deficiency.
Poor Calving Hygiene: Unsanitary calving environments elevate the risk of bacterial infections, which can prolong placental retention and lead to secondary infections such as metritis.
Induced Calving: Cows subjected to induced labor are more prone to RFM compared to those that calve naturally.

Prevention Strategies

Effective prevention of RFM requires a multifaceted approach focusing on proper nutrition, herd management, and calving hygiene. Key preventive measures include:

Nutritional Management: Ensure adequate intake of essential minerals, particularly selenium and vitamin E, to support immune function and uterine recovery. Balanced feeding during the dry period prevents cows from becoming overfat, reducing the risk of metabolic disorders.
Calving Management: Provide a clean and stress-free calving environment. Proper monitoring and timely assistance during difficult calvings can minimize complications.
Milk Fever Control: Older cows with a history of milk fever should receive calcium supplementation at calving to prevent hypocalcemia-related complications.
Regular Health Monitoring: Maintain detailed records of calving outcomes and monitor cows post-calving for signs of infection or reproductive challenges.

Treatment and Management of Retained Placenta

If a cow retains the placenta beyond 24 hours, veterinary intervention may be necessary, especially if there are signs of systemic illness. Treatment approaches include:

Monitoring and Supportive Care: If the cow shows no signs of fever or illness, allowing natural expulsion within four to five days without intervention is often recommended.
Avoid Manual Removal: Manual extraction of the retained placenta can cause more harm than good, increasing the risk of uterine damage and secondary infections.
Hormonal Therapy: Prostaglandins and oxytocin have been found largely ineffective in resolving RFM, so their routine use is not recommended.

Herd Health Planning

While retained placenta itself does not directly impact animal health, complications arising from untreated cases can lead to severe health issues. Farms experiencing an RFM incidence rate above 10% should reassess their herd management practices, particularly regarding nutrition, calving protocols, and disease prevention.

To enhance herd health and productivity, best practices should include:

Systematic recording of retained placenta cases and related health conditions
Assessing and adjusting herd nutrition to prevent metabolic imbalances
Ensuring proper hygiene and assistance during calving
Addressing milk fever and vitamin/mineral deficiencies proactively

By implementing these strategies, farmers can significantly reduce the occurrence of RFM, improving both reproductive efficiency and overall herd health.