Objective To evaluate radiofrequency (RF) efficiency and safety for the ablation of retained placenta in humans, using a pregnant sheep model.

Blood profiles can be an important extension of the clinical evaluaton of herds with production or reproductive problems. Biochemical and haematological tests can be used to identify many factors involved in herd problems. However, other steps should also be taken to determine the nutritional and health status of a problem herd. For example, feed testing and ration evaluaton should be done along with the blood profile. Interpretation of profiles is most accurate if they are accompanied by clinical history and ration information. The clinician, the nutritionist and the clinical pathologist should work as a team.

A study of the computer stored records of 293 dairy cows and 652 calvings reveals the effects of retained placenta and metritis complex on reproductive performance. The overall incidence rate of retained placenta was 11.2%. Retained placenta was 4.6 times more likely to occur following twin births than following single births. Most cases of retained placenta occurred during the fall. Forty-five percent of that seasonal increase was explained by an increased number of calvings. Metritis complex was diagnosed following 54.8% of retained placenta cases. Retained placenta alone did not significantly impair reproductive performance. Metritis complex, in the presence or absence of retained placenta, caused a significant (p≤0.05) increase in days open, services per conception, calving to first heat intervals and days from calving to first service. There is an indication (interaction p≤0.1) that cows with both retained placenta and metritis complex are more severely affected than cows with either retained placenta or metritis complex alone. The influence of retained placenta on fertility appears to depend on the proportion of cows with retained placenta that have metritis complex.

The principles of the herd health programme at the Ontario Veterinary College are discussed with particular emphasis on the veterinarian-dairyman relationship. The importance of: selection of herds (checking health indices before allowing enrolment into the programme); procedures and contracts to avoid misunderstanding, records for identification and up-to-date reports, and cost benefit analysis are all stressed. Analysis of data provided conclusive evidence that return on investment improved significantly (95 to 502%) when the dairyman participated in the programme.

One hundred Holstein cows which were recumbent with parturient paresis were treated with either a calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, dextrose preparation (CADEX) or calcium borogluconate. Treatments were either injected intravenously (500 ml) or intravenously (500 ml) and subcutaneously (500 ml). Overall relapse rate was 22%; the lowest rate (4%) occurred in cows injected with CADEX i/v and s/c and the highest rate 40% was in cows injected i/v with calcium borogluconate. Increase in levels of serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus after 12 h was higher in cows injected s/c and i/v than i/v, but by 48 h levels were higher in cows injected i/v only. There was no evidence that addition of phosphorous to the treatment increased serum inorganic phosphorus or was beneficial in preventing relapse.