The risk factors and impact of retained fetal membranes (RFM) on productive and reproductive performance of crossbred cattle, Zebu cattle, and Murrah buffalos were evaluated using data spread over 12 years. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors and to quantify their odds ratio (OR). Overall incidence of RFM in crossbred cattle, Zebu cattle, and Murrah buffalos were 26, 16, and 13 %, respectively; and significant risk factors for RFM in crossbred cattle were abortion (OR = 3.9), dead calf (OR = 4.1), dystocia (OR = 4.3), pluriparity (OR = 1.5), and shorter gestation length (OR = 4.3). In Zebu cattle, abortion (OR = 4.0), dead calf (OR = 3.7), dystocia (OR = 3.9), lower birth weight of calf (OR = 1.6), and shorter gestation length (OR = 6.4) were significant risk factors for RFM. In Murrah buffalos, abortion (OR = 19.2), dead calf (OR = 4.4), dystocia (OR = 4.7), pluriparity (OR = 1.7), shorter gestation length (OR = 12.7), and calving during summer season (OR = 1.8) were the risk factors for RFM. Although the occurrence of RFM did not affect fertility parameters, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in 305-day milk yield and total milk yield was observed in RFM-affected crossbred cattle. Taken together, it may be concluded that increased parity, abnormal calving, and short gestation length were the main risk factors for RFM in dairy bovine.

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The present study assessed the peripartum metabolic profile of Karan Fries crossbred (Holstein Friesian × Tharparkar) and Zebu (Sahiwal) cows in relation to expulsion of fetal membranes. Peripheral blood concentrations of glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and β-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA) were determined (from 30 days before and 2 days after calving) in cows that expelled fetal membranes normally (n = 13; 7 crossbred and 6 Zebu cows) and in cows that developed retention of fetal membranes (RFM; n = 13; 7 crossbred and 6 Zebu cows). In both breeds, the cows that developed RFM had significantly lower concentrations of cholesterol, glucose and total protein, while the concentrations of NEFA, BHBA and blood urea nitrogen were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in cows that normally expelled the fetal membranes. In crossbred cows affected with RFM, the concentrations of NEFA increased significantly (P < 0.05) from Day 14 prepartum to Day 2 postpartum and the concentrations of BHBA increased from Day 7 prepartum to Day 2 after calving. Similarly, in Zebu cows, NEFA and BHBA concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) between Day 5 prepartum and Day 2 postpartum in RFM cows. Using receiver operator characteristic analysis, we observed that the concentrations of NEFA and BHBA before calving were highly related to the RFM. It may be inferred that monitoring the levels of NEFA and BHBA during prepartum period would help in identifying the cows at the risk of developing RFM.

Retention of fetal membranes (RFM) in bovines not only lowers fertility and productivity but also leads to significant economic loss to the dairy farms. The present study compared peripartum progesterone, estradiol, cortisol, Prostaglandin F2 metabolite (PGFM) and relaxin concentrations in crossbred cows with normal parturition (NP) and with RFM. Blood samples were collected from 33 dairy cows at weekly interval from 30 days prepartum till 7th day before calving, followed by every alternate days till calving and 1st and 2nd day postpartum. Significantly higher plasma cortisol concentrations was observed between day 3 prepartum and day 2 postpartum in RFM cows (n=6) compared to NP cows (n=6). Plasma estradiol level was significantly lower in RFM group than in NP group on the day of calving while progesterone concentrations did not differ between the groups. In RFM cows, PGFM level was significantly lower on day 1 and day 2 postpartum compared to NP cows. On the day of calving and on day 1 postpartum, relaxin concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in NP cows compared to RFM cows. The ROC analysis, commonly used for development of diagnostic threshold value, revealed that cows with cortisol concentration above 7.35 ng/ml and PGFM concentration below 1,072 pg/ml on day-1 were associated with 5.99 times higher risk of RFM. It may be inferred that peripartum plasma cortisol and PGFM concentrations may be useful for identification of crossbred cows at the risk of developing RFM.