Placental retention in Canchimn cows.

Abstract

The incidence of placental retention in 1.313 calvings of Canchim cows was studied during the periods of 1976 to 1978 and 1981 to 1983. There was a high variation in the percentage of placental retention, due to year of calving. The mean incidence was 9.5%. Season of calving showed highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on the incidence. Cows calving during the dry season (May to October) showed 11.6% retention, while those calving during me rainy season (November to April) showed 2.6% retention. Sex and birth weight of calves did not affect placental retention. There was a tendency of higher incidence of placental retention as parity number increased. A low heritability estimate was obtained for the trait studied. Treatment of retained placenta with extended action ocitocic (metil ergonovine) produced results similar to those of the treatment with short duration ocitocic (ocitocine).