Use of an on-farm progesterone test in the clinical management of parturient disorders in three cows.

Measurement of blood progesterone concentrations with a rapid, on-farm test was used to guide the clinical management of 3 cows with parturient disorders. An 8-year-old cow in the third trimester of pregnancy had chronic vaginocervical prolapse with partially dilated (4 cm) necrotic cervix. Blood progesterone concentration estimated with the test kit was low (< 2 ng/ml), and the cervical dilatation was attributed to stage-1 parturition. Vaginal delivery of the calf occurred 7 hours later. A 2-year-old cow examined for dystocia had a uterine torsion. Eighteen hours after apparent correction of the torsion, the cervix had failed to dilate. Blood progesterone concentration was 2 to 5 ng/ml, suggesting parturition had not yet been initiated. Parturition was induced with dexamethasone and prostaglandin, and calving occurred 32 hours later. A pregnant, 16-month-old heifer was believed to be about to calve and was admitted because of potential need cesarean section. Examination revealed the cervix to be closed. Blood progesterone concentration was low, and calving was predicted to occur within 24 hours. The heifer was monitored, and stage-2 labor was observed 8 hours later. The calf was delivered with minor assistance. In each case, the test provided diagnostic information that was useful in making therapeutic management decisions.