Treatment of dairy cows at parturition with prostaglandin F2 alpha or oxytocin for prevention of retained fetal membranes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of treatment at parturition with dinoprost tromethamine, fenprostalene, or oxytocin on postpartum disease and reproductive performance during the subsequent breeding season in dairy cows.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

ANIMALS

1,400 Holstein cows from 5 commercial dairies.

PROCEDURE

Cows were assigned within 2 hours after calving to serve as untreated control cows or to be treated with 1 mg of fenprostalene, SC; 25 mg of dinoprost tromethamine, IM; or 20 IU of oxytocin, IM. Cows were confined to treatment pens and monitored daily until fetal membranes were expelled. Cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) were treated according to existing treatment protocols for the dairy, with the provision that intrauterine infusions were not allowed. All other disease conditions were recorded, and appropriate treatment was administered. Postpartum reproductive examinations were performed 28 to 56 days after parturition Breeding records were maintained for all cows until pregnancy was confirmed or the cow was removed from the herd.

RESULTS

Fetal membranes were retained in 12.1% of all cows, and this outcome was unaffected by treatment. Compared with cows without RFM, cows with RFM had longer intervals to first insemination (76.4 vs 82.0 days), reduced first insemination conception rates (46.8 vs 28.0%), and increased number of days not pregnant (103.2 vs 127.4 days). Farm, as a variable, significantly affected development of RFM and postpartum disease conditions as well as reproductive performance during the subsequent breeding season. Fetal membranes were retained in 12.4, 15.2, 8.7, 6.3, and 16.9% of cows on farms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Mean days to first insemination varied from 64.5 days (farm 3) to 91.5 days (farm 1). Mean number of days not pregnant varied from 94.8 days (farm 3) to 15.9 days (farm 4).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Administration of prostaglandins or oxytocin at the time of calving does not reduce the incidence of RFM or improve reproductive performance. Farm management practices have the greatest impact on dairy cow performance.