Treatment of dairy cows at parturition with prostaglandin F2alpha or oxytocin for prevention of retained fetal membranes.

摘要

1400 Holstein cows from 5 commercial dairies were assigned within 2 h after calving to be treated with 1 mg of fenprostalene, s.c.; 25 mg of dinoprost tromethamine, i.m.; or 20 IU of oxytocin, i.m., or be controls. 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 diseaseconditions 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 removedfrom the herd. Fetal membranes were retained in 12.1% of all cows, with no difference between treatment. Compared to 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 94.8days (farm 3) to 115.9 days (farm 4). It is concluded that 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 ondairy cow performance.