Blood progesterone level before caesarean section in relation to retained placenta in cattle

Abstract

Abstract:

Retaining of foetal membranes is one of the most common complications associated with the reduction in milk yield and impaired fertility in dairy cattle. In order to predict the occurrence of this disease in cattle after a caesarean section (CS), peripheral blood progesterone (P4) levels pre-partum were measured and gestation length was noted in 60 healthy cows. The CS was carried out in favour of the veterinary university education program. Samples were taken at 08.00 h in the morning on several days pre-partum. 43 cows retained their placenta for more than 12 hours (group 1) and 17 had a normal placental delivery (<12 h) (group 2). To evaluate the difference with the normal pre-partum progesterone pattern we used a control group (group 3, n=21). This group did not have a CS and had no retained placenta (RP). Our results show that on the day of the CS significant higher (P<0.01) P4 values were seen in group 1. This confirms our hypothesis that a low blood P4 level is required for a normal placental delivery. The predictability of the occurrence of RP was high (100%) when the cows had a P4 level above 2.0 ng/ml on the day of the CS.