Influence of the duration of calving and obstetric assistance on the placental retention index in Holstein dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of duration of calving and obstetric assistance on retained placenta incidence of high milk production Holstein cows. Experimental groups were determined according to the duration of the expulsive phase of calving: 2 h (n = 16), 2-4 h (n = 16) and >4 h (n = 12), and additionally allocated in two sub-groups: spontaneous calving (n = 22) and intervention calving (n = 22). Diagnosis of retained placenta was considered with a threshold of 8 h after the expulsive phase. Cows without obstetric intervention, with labor duration of 2 h, presented reduced time needed for placental release, in comparison to those with obstetric assistance. In the 2-4 h group and >4 h, there was no statistical difference. The 2 h and 2-4 h groups with intervention and the spontaneous >4 h group were considered retained placenta groups. On the other hand, performing obstetric intervention when calving period was superior to 4 h nulled the occurrence of retention of fetal membranes. As a conclusion, obstetric assistance predisposes placental retention to calving with <2 h of duration in dairy cows. Conversely, when calving is more than 4 h, performing fetal extraction has a beneficial influence on preventing retained placenta.

Oxidative stress and acid–base balance during the transition period of neonatal Holstein calves submitted to different calving times and obstetric assistance

“…As described in detail previously, using the same study population (Vannucchi et al, 2017(Vannucchi et al, , 2018, we conducted a prospective and observational study in a single dairy herd with high-milk-producing Holstein cows and heifers of BCS between 2.5 and 3.5. The local air temperature and humidity ranged from 17.6 to 23.5°C and from 68.3 to 79.7%, respectively, with an average wind speed ranging from 9 to 11 km/h.…”

Changes of Acid-Base Variables in Dairy Cows with Chronically Implanted Fetal and Maternal Catheters during Late Gestation and Calving

“…The effect on the prevalence of injuries of the birth canal and retained fetal membranes was not reported. At the same time, Vannouchi et al [ 47 ] could not confirm any connection between retained fetal membranes and extended duration of calving (>4 h). In our case, the prepartum maternal acid-base parameters did not differ if retained fetal membranes occurred after calving.…”

Do Calving-Related Injuries of the Vestibulum Vaginae and the Vagina Affect the Reproductive Performance in Primiparous Dairy Cows?

“…The more severe the injuries were, the more likely it was that the animals had an infection of the uterus post partum. According to the literature, three common reasons for disturbed health after assisted calvings are: a higher prevalence of retained placenta, endometritis, and/or vulvovaginal lacerations compared with unassisted calvings [ 16 , 17 ]. Therefore, one reason for this outcome may be the high percentage of assisted calvings in the study heifers and the high percentage of severe injuries of the soft birth canal tissue.…”