How can retained placenta problems be prevented?
Since there are many causes of retained placenta, there is no simple answer. Some of the obvious answers include: (1) don’t allow cows to get too thin or too fat before calving, (2) reduce stress near calving as much as possible, (3) prevent exposure to pine needles, juniper trees, and pine trees (particularly ponderosa pines) before calving, (4) make sure your trace mineral and vitamin supplementation program is adequate, (5) prevent foothill abortion problems, and (6) maintain a sound vaccination program to minimize the chance of viral or bacterial abortions. Because calving problems often result in retained placenta, it is important to consider the appropriate selection of genetics for your herd as a part of prevention. One of the useful tools is birth weight Expected Progency Differences (EPDs). Lower birth weights will decrease calving problems if all other factors are equal. However, it is also important to remember that big cows with big pelvic canals can have big calves easily.
