Peripartal serum biochemical, haematological and hormonal changes associated with retained placenta in dairy cows

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology 2006-06, Vol.15 (1), p.27-30
• Main Authors: Farzaneh, N., Mohri, M., Jafari, A. Moghaddam, Honarmand, K., Mirshokraei, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cattle; Metabolites
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-006-0605-7

Retained placenta (RP) is one of the most important complications in cattle because it affects milk production and reproductive performance. To determine any changes between healthy cows and cows that retained their afterbirth, serum metabolites, haematological parameters and hormonal concentrations were measured 96-48 h prepartum and 24-48 h postpartum in 15 healthy and 15 RP dairy cows. Serum metabolites were not different between the two groups, pre- and postpartum; only Na was marginally lower in RP cows prepartum and albumin was marginally lower in RP cows postpartum. There were also no differences between the two groups prepartum according to blood parameters. Only fibrinogen was significantly higher in RP cows postpartum. Progesterone and cortisol did not differ significantly between the two groups pre- and postpartum but estrogen concentration was significantly lower in the RP group, pre- and postpartum. Progesterone/estrogen ratio was also significantly higher in the RP group prepartum and postpartum. In conclusion, lower estrogen concentrations and higher progesterone/estrogen ratio seem to be the main hormonal changes in RP cows and one time sampling 4 to 2 days before calving can reveal these changes.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]