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Animal Reproduction Science,

14 (1987) 251-262 251

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - - Pri nted in The Netherlands

F a c t o r s R e l a t e d t o t h e E t i o l o g y o f R e t a i n e d

P l a c e n t a i n D a i r y C a t t l e

L JOOSTEN, P. VAN ELDIK, L. ELVING and G.J.W. VAN DER MEY

Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Utrecht, P.O.

Box 80.156, Utrecht The Netherlands)

(Accepted 21 April 1987)

ABSTRACT

Joosten, I., Van Eldik, P., Elving, L. and Van der Mey, G.J.W., 1987. Factors related to the etiology

of retained placenta in dairy cattle.

Anim. Reprod. Sci.,

14: 251-262.

Bir th records of 369 288 calvings of 160 188 Meuse- Rhine-Yssel cows were analysed to assess

the influence of factors associated with ret ained placenta. Special emphasis was placed on the

analysis of a subset containing data on bi rths involving a single live calf and an easy or normal

calving process. The overall rate of incidence of retained placenta was 6.6%. The rate increased

during the years studied. Abortion, stillbirth and multiple birth caused a marked increase in rate,

as did difficult calving, caesarean section and fetotomy. After adjust ing for these factors, analysis

of the corrected subset showed that the rate of incidence increased with age of the dam. Gestation

length prior to rete ntion and bi rth weight were also associated with higher rates. The combination

of short gestation length ( < 270 days) and low bir th weight ( < 37 kg) was associated with the

highest risk of retained placenta. High birth weights mainl y caused higher rates when related to

dystocia. The incidence rate in cows delivering a male calf was only slightly higher than in cows

delivering a female calf. Cows having retained placenta for a first or second time were three and

six times, respectively, as likely to do so again at a subsequent partu ritio n when compared with

cows which had not had ret ained placenta previously.

INTRODUCTION

R e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a ( R P ) is a n i m p o r t a n t r e p r o d u c t i v e d i se a s e . I t c a u s e s c o n -

s i d e r a b le e c o n o m i c lo s s a t f a r m l ev e l, e s p e c ia l ly w h e n t h e i n c i d e n c e e x c e e d s

t h e a v e r a g e r a t e o f 5 - 1 0 % ( L o t t h a m m e r , 1 98 1; J o o s t e n e t a l. , 1 98 7 ). T h e e x a c t

c a u s e o f t h e d i s e a s e i s s t il l n o t k n o w n , a n d t h i s h a m p e r s t h e s e a r c h f o r p r e v e n -

t i v e a n d t h e r a p e u r i c m e a s u r e s . E x t e n s i v e r e s e a r c h h a s i n d i c a t e d i n v o l v e m e n t

o f s ev e r a l c au s a l f ac t o r s , s u ch a s b r eed ( E r b a n d M ar t i n , 1 97 8; W a t t s e t a l. ,

1 9 7 9 ) , y ea r ( R o b e r t s , 1 97 1 ) , s ea s o n ( D y r e n d ah l e t a l. , 19 77 ; D u B o i s an d W i l -

l i ams , 1 9 8 0 ) , h e r d ( R o b e r t s , 1 9 7 1 ) , d y s t o c i a ( G ey e r , 1 9 6 4 ; E r b e t a l . , 1 9 8 1 ;

T h o m p s o n e t a l. , 1 9 8 3 ), g e s t a t i o n l e n g t h ( M u l l e r a n d O w e n s , 19 74 ; G r u n e r t ,

0378-4320/87/$03.50 1987 Elsevier Science Publ ishe rs B.V.

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1 9 8 3 ) , a g e { M u l l e r a n d O w e n s , 1 97 4; D y r e n d a h l e t a l., 1 97 7 ; E r b a n d M a r t i n ,

1 9 8 0 ) , s t r e s s ( H i n d s o n , 1 9 7 6; D u B o i s a n d W i l l ia m s , 1 9 80 ; Z S l d ag , 1 9 8 3 ) , n u -

t r i t i o n ( T r i n d e r e t a l . , 1 9 7 3 ; M o r r o w e t a l . , 1 9 7 9 ; L o t t h a m m e r , 1 9 8 3 ) , a n d

h o r m o n e l e ve l s ( A g t h e a n d K o l m , 1 9 75 ; C h e w e t a l. , 19 79 ; B o s u e t a l. , 1 9 8 4 ) .

R e c e n t l y , d i s t u r b a n c e s i n t h e i m m u n o l o g i c a l i n t e r a c t i o n b e t w e e n d a m a n d c a l f

w e r e f o u n d b y G u n n i n k ( 1 9 8 4 a, b ,c ) a n d H e u w i e s e r e t a l. ( 1 9 8 5 ) .

T h e r e i s, h o w e v e r , n o c o n s i s t e n t o p i n i o n a m o n g th e a u t h o r s o n t h e e x a c t

i n f l u e n c e o f t h e s e f a ct o r s. S t u d y p o p u l a t i o n s a r e o f t e n s m a l l a n d o f va r ia b l e

o r i gi n . M o s t s t u d i e s f o c u s o n o n l y a f e w s p e c if i c fa c t o r s , w h i c h m a k e s i t d i f fi -

c u l t to a s s es s t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f th e s e f a c t o rs t o t h e i n c i d e n c e o f th e d i se a se .

I n t h i s s t u d y , a la r g e d a t a s e t h a s b e e n a n a l y s e d o n t h e i n f l u e n c e o f v a r i o u s r i s k

f a c to r s a n d t h e i r i n t e r a c ti o n s , w i t h s p e c i a l e m p h a s i s o n t h e c h a r a c t e r i z a t io n

o f f a c to r s a s s o c i a t ed w i t h a n e n h a n c e d f r e q u e n c y o f R P i n n o r m a l c a l v i n g c o w s.

T h i s f i r s t r e p o r t d e s c r i b e s t h e d a t a s e t i n f ul l a n d p r o v i d e s r e s u l t s o f a n i n i t i a l

a n a l y s is w h i c h i n t e n d e d t o p r o v i d e a n i n - d e p t h c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f e a c h f a c t o r

i n v o lv e d . T h e f a c t o rs a n d t h e i r i n t e r a c t i o n s ( i n c l u d i n g b u ll a n d h e r d i n fl u -

e n c e ) w e r e f u r t h e r a n a l y s e d u s i n g l i n e a r m o d e l s ; t h e s e r e s u l ts w i ll b e p u b l i s h e d

i n a s e c o n d r e p o r t .

MATERIALS AND M ETHODS

Study population

T h e p r e s e n t s t u d y w a s c o n d u c t e d b y m a k i n g u s e o f t h e b i r t h r e g is t ra t io n

d a t a o f a n A .I . c e n t r e s i t u a t e d i n t h e s o u t h o f T h e N e t h e r l a n d s . T h e a v e r ag e

n u m b e r o f ( p r i v a t e l y o w n e d ) f a r m s i n t h e t o t a l a r e a m a k i n g u s e o f A . I. i n th e

p e r i o d s t u d i e d w a s 1 6 80 . T h e a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f c o w s p e r f a r m u s e d f o r r ep r o -

d u c t i o n w a s 4 5. T h e c a t t le p o p u l a t i o n w a s p r e d o m i n a n t l y o f t h e

M e u s e - R h i n e - Y s s e l ( M . R . Y . ) b r e e d , a d a ir y b r e e d a ls o s u i t ed fo r b e e f p r o -

d u c t i o n . T h e a v e r ag e m i l k p r o d u c t i o n p e r c o w in t h i s r e g i o n d u r i n g t h e y e a r s

1 9 7 5 - 1 9 8 3 w a s 5 68 0 k g , w i t h 3 . 9 0% f a t a n d 3 .3 8 % p r o t e i n ( C e n t r a l M i l k R e -

c o r d i n g S e r v i ce ) . D u r i n g w i n t e r c o w s w e r e h o u s e d i n a t i e s t a ll o r c u b i c le h o u s -

i n g s y s t em ; f r o m M a y t h r o u g h O c t o b e r m o s t c o w s w e r e a t p a s tu r e . R a t i o n s

d u r i n g h o u s i n g c o n s i s t e d m a i n l y o f c o r n s i la g e a n d t o a l e ss e r e x t e n t o f g ra s s

a n d h a y s il ag e . G r a s s w a s t h e m a i n f e e d d u r i n g s u m m e r . I n b o t h c a s e s c o n c e n -

t r a t e s w e r e a d d i t i o n a l l y s u p p l ie d . N i n e t y - t h r e e p e r c e n t o f b r e e d i n g w a s b y A . I.

B u l l s u s e d w e r e m a i n l y o f t h e M . R . Y . b r e e d a n d i n s o m e c as e s o f t h e F r i e s i a n

o r R e d H o l s t e i n b r e e d s . A n a v e r a g e o f 4 9 % o f t h e f a r m s w a s a f f i l i a te d t o a

b r e e d i n g s o c ie t y . V e t e r i n a r y s e r v i c e w a s p r o v i d e d b y l o c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r s . T h e

h e r d s w e r e b r u c e l l o s i s f r e e.

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D ata collection an d storage

T h e d a t a s e t w a s c r e a t e d f ro m t h e b i r t h r e g i s t r a t i o n d a t a c o v e r i n g t h e p e r i o d

f r o m N o v e m b e r 1 9 75 t h r o u g h M a y 1 98 4. B i r t h r e g i s t r a t i o n w a s b y o b li g a to r y

s u b m i s s i o n o f a b i r t h r e c o r d b y t h e f a r m e r a f t e r e a c h d e l iv e r y, i n c l u d i n g a b o r-

t i o n a n d p r e m a t u r e d e li v er y . N i n e t y - n i n e p e r c e n t o f t h e r e c o r d s w e r e r e ce iv e d.

R e g u l a r i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e g iv e n to t h e f a r m e r s o n h o w t o i n t e r p r e t t h e v a ri -

a b l e s m e n t i o n e d o n t h e r e c o r d . A l l r e c e i v e d r e c o r d s w e r e c h e c k e d fo r c o m p l e -

t i o n a n d p o s s i b l e e r r o r s . D a t a w e r e c o d e d a n d e n t e r e d o n s p e c i a l ly w r i t t e n

c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m m e s ( V a n L o e n a n d V a n D i e te n , 1 96 1 ) .

Record editing

T h e f i n a l d a t a s e t w a s p r o d u c e d b y s ev e r a l e d i t i n g s t e p s . D e l e t i o n o f r e c o r d s

b e c a u s e o f o b v i o u s i n p u t e r r o r s r e s u l t e d i n a f in a l d a t a s e t c o n t a i n i n g d a t a o n

1 60 1 88 M . R . Y . c o w s . T h e r e c o r d c o n t a i n e d t h e f o l lo w i n g v a r i ab l e s :

( 1 ) i d e n t i f i c a t io n : n u m b e r , b r e e d , h e r d , d a t e o f b i r t h , s i re , d a m .

( 2 ) r e p r o d u c t i o n : d a t e o f p a r t u r i t i o n , p a r i t y , c a l v i n g p r o c e s s , r e t a i n e d p l a -

c e n t a , s i n g l e / m u l t i p l e b i r t h , s e x , c o n d i t i o n a n d w e i g h t o f c a lf .

( 3 ) i n s e m i n a t i o n : d a t e o f f ir s t i n s e m i n a t i o n , d a t e o f l a st i n s e m i n a t i o n , n u m b e r

o f i n s e m i n a t i o n s , n u m b e r o f s ir e s u s e d , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f s ir e .

( 4 ) c u l li n g : d a t e o f c u ll i n g , c a u s e o f c u l li n g , p r e g n a n t a t c u l l in g .

Interpretation of variables

- - p a r i t y : c a l v i n g s e q u e n c e 1 , 2 a n d >~ 3 .

c a l v i n g p r o c e s s : e a s y ( n o o r m i n o r a s s i s t a n c e ) ; n o r m a l ( e a s y p u l l ) ; d i f f ic u l t

( h a r d p u l l: 2 o r m o r e p e r s o n s ) ; c a e s a r e a n s e c t io n ; f e t o t o m y .

- - a b o r t i o n : g e s t a t i o n l e n g t h s h o r t e r t h a n 2 60 d ay s . S p ec i fi c al ly m e n t i o n e d b y

t h e f a r m e r .

- - r e t a i n e d p l ac e n ta : r e t e n t i o n o f f et al m e m b r a n e s f or m o r e t h a n 2 4 h p o s t

p a r t u m .

m w e i g h t o f c a lf , e s t i m a t e d b y t h e f a r m e r .

- - c o n d i t i o n o f t h e c al f: al iv e ; s ti l lb o r n .

Da ta analysis

F o r i n i t i a l a n a l y s i s al l v a l i d d a t a o n R P f r o m c a l v i n g s w i t h g e s t a t i o n l e n g t h s

b e t w e e n 2 6 0 a n d 3 0 0 d a y s w e r e u s e d . I n a d d i t i o n a b o r t i o n s w e r e t a k e n i n t o

a c c o u n t , b u t o n l y w h e n m e n t i o n e d a s s u c h b y t h e f a r m e r . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f

c a l v i n g s a m o u n t e d t o 3 6 9 2 8 8. T h i s s e t w a s u s e d t o a n a l y s e e f f e c t s o f y e a r ,

c a l v i n g t y p e a n d c a l v i n g p r o c es s .

A s p e c i a l s u b s e t ( A ) w a s c r e a t e d c o n t a i n i n g d a t a o n s i n g l e b i r t h s w i t h li ve

c a l f a n d e a s y o r n o r m a l c a l v i n g p r o c e s s . T h i s s e t w a s u s e d t o a n a l y s e y e a r , a g e

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of dam, gestation length, sex and weight of calf and season as risk factors, and

contained 312 547 records. For differences between years and seasonal effects,

the data for the years 1975 and 1984 were excluded since these data covered

only 3 and 6 months , respectively. To assess the chance of recurrence of RP, a

second subset was created from subset A. This subset (B) contained data on

cows tha t calved three or more times consecutively starting from the first par-

ity, within the period covered by the data set. Only the first three calvings were

take n into account. The subset contained data on 19 374 cows (=5 8 122

records).

A Pearson's Chi-square test for independence was used for analysis of parity,

calving type, calving process, sex of calf and recurrence. To assess differences

in rates between years and amongst age groups, a Pear son's Chi-square test for

independence was used to compute an overall Chi-square stati stic (Xt~). This

statistic was subdivided into a component due to linear regression of retained

placenta on year or age ()~, with one degree of freedom) and a component due

to depa rture from the linear model (X~, with t - 1 degrees of freedom) . A sig-

nificant X~ statistic implied an increase with year or age; a linea r tre nd was

dete cted by a non-sign ificant X~ statistic.

Within subset A gestation length and weight of calf were analysed by a Chi-

square test for heterogeneity (Snedecor and Cochran, 1980). Differences in

gestation length and bir th weight between the sexes were analysed by a two-

tailed t-test for difference in means. Seasonal patte rns were analysed by a test

for seasona lity of events ( Walter and Elwood, 1975 ). Thi s tes t allows for vari-

ation in the population at risk. The total year length was take n as 365.25 days

and the length of February as 28.25 days. The tes t assumes tha t t he dat a can

be placed at the circumference of a unit circle. A unimodal cyclic pat ter n is

detect ed when: (1) )~ is significant, which means tha t the centre of gravity of

the observed data points is significantly removed from the expected centre and

( 2 ) X~ is non-significant, which mea ns th at the observed data fits the hypoth-

esized model. As a slight modificat ion of the test method we minimalized the

X~ statis tic by compute r search for the opt imum value of c~ ( ampl itude of cyclic

variation).

Gestation length a nd average age at calving per m onth were analysed by a

two-tailed t-test for difference in means.

Because of the large numbers, a level of significance of 0.01 was chosen for

all tests.

RESULTS

Population characteristics

Average age at first calving was 858.6 + 107.3 days, calving interval was

384.2 + 49.3 days and gestat ion length was 278.8_+ 5.2 days. The number of

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T A B L E 1

Ra t e o f i n c i d e n c e ( % ) o f r e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a f r o m 1 97 6 t h r o u g h 1 98 3. F i g u r e s a r e g i v e n f o r t h e t o t a l

s e t ( a l l b i r t h s ) a n d f o r s u b s e t A ( s i n g l e b i r t h s , l i v e c a l f a n d e a s y o r n o r ma l c a l v i n g )

Y e a r T o t a l s e t Su b s e t A N o . o f c a l v i n g s

1976 5.8* 4.0** 4042 8 35138

1977 6.0 3.9 38947 33103

1978 6.3 4.1 40756 34553

1979 6.3 4.1 42092 35938

1980 6.8 4.1 42764 36209

1981 6.1 3.6 45955 38454

1982 7.1 4.4 48478 39900

1983 7.4 4.8 4708 8 39088

To tal 6 .6 4 .1 346508 292383

* 1 9 76 -1 9 83 : X t ( 7 d .f . ) = 1 6 9 . 4 ( P < 0 . 0 0 1 ) ; ) ~ ( 1 d . f. ) = 1 2 1 . 2 ( P < 0 . 0 0 1 ) ; X ~ (6 d . f. ) = 4 8 . 2

( P < 0 . 0 0 1 ) .

* * 1 9 7 6 - 1 9 8 3 : Z ~ = 8 4 . 9

P

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T A B L E 2

R e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n

g iven fo r par i t i e s 1 , 2,

c a l v i n g t y p e a n d r a t e o f i n c i d e n ce ( % ) o f r e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a . N u m b e r s a r e

> I 3 a n d t o t a l . T h e t o t a l n u mb e r o f c a lv i n g s i n e a c h c l a s s i s in p a r e n t h e s e s

C a l v in g t y p e P a r i t y

1 2 >~ 3 To tal

Sin gle l ive cal f 3 .1 {58900) 3 .3 {85085) 5 .3 (185220)

A bo r t io n 50 .7 (493) 60 .3 (1013) 64 .8 (2026)

St i l l b i r th ( s ing le 13 .3 (4575) 19 .3 (3189) 24 .4 (5684)

b i r t h s )

M ul t ip l e b i r th 30 .2 (625} 33 .8 (4214) 38 .2 (7562)

4.4 (329205)

61.6 (3532}

19.4 (13449)

36.8 (10601)

*T h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n a l l c a l v i n g ty p e s a n d p a r i t i e s w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t ( P < 0 .0 01 ) .

F i g s . 1, 2 a n d 3 a n d T a b l e s 4 a n d 5 s h o w t h e o u t c o m e o f a n a l y s i s o f t h e d a t a

f o r s i n g l e b i r t h s w i t h l iv e c a l f a n d a n o r m a l e a s y c a l v i n g ( s u b s e t A ) .

A g e g r o u p s w e r e c o m p o s e d w i t h i n t h e p a r i t y g r o u p s ( F ig . 1 ) . I n p a r i t y 1 as

w e l l a s i n p a r i t y 2 t h e r e w a s a l i n e a r i n c r e a s e w i t h a g e ( P < 0 . 0 0 5 ) . I n p a r i t y 3

a n d g r e a t e r , a n i n c r e a s e w i t h a g e w a s a l s o d e t e c t a b l e ( P < 0 .0 0 1 ) , b u t t h e i n -

c r e as e a p p e a r e d t o b e c u r v il i n ea r . B o t h b i r t h w e i g h t a n d g e s t a t i o n l e n g t h p r i o r

t o r e t e n t i o n i n f l u e n c e d R P i n c i d e n c e ( T a b l e 4 ) . A g e s t a t i o n l e n g t h o f 2 7 5 - 27 9

d a y s w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m i n i m u m i n c i d e n c e r at es , m o r e o r l es s i r re s p e c ti v e

o f b i r t h w e i g h t . E s p e c i a l l y g e s t a t i o n l e n g t h s o f 2 7 0 d a y s o r l e s s s h o w e d h i g h e r

r a te s . P r o l o n g e d g e s t a t io n a s s u c h , li k e h i g h b i r t h w e i g h t s , d id n o t a p p e a r t o

h a v e a s t r o n g i n f lu e n c e . C o w s w i t h a c o m b i n a t i o n o f s h o r t g e s t a t i o n p e r i o d a n d

l ow b i r t h w e i g h t w e r e m o s t a t r i s k; w h e n e i t h e r o n e i n c r e a s e d t h e i n c i d en c e

r a t e d r o p p e d .

T A B L E 3

R e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n c a l v in g p r o c e s s a n d r a t e o f i n c id e n c e ( % ) o f r e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a . N u m b e r s

a r e g i v e n f o r p a r i t i e s 1 , 2, >1 3 a n d t o t a l . T h e t o t a l n u mb e r o f c a l v in g s i n e a c h c l a s s is i n p a r e n t h e s e s

C a l v i n g p r o c e s s P a r i t y

1 2 > /3 To ta l

Ea sy 2.5* (287 57) 4 .0 {49350) 6 .1 (109878) 5 .0 (187985)

N orm al 4 .0 (28492) 4 .8 (37485) 7 .7 (84553) 6 .3 (150530)

Di ff ic ul t 10.3 (637 7) 11.6 (469 5) 17.7 (627 3) 13.3 (1734)

Ca esare an 10 .9 (1543) 13 .2 (613) 20 .7 (610) 13 .6 (3166)

Fe to to m y 13 .1 (110) 27 .5 (69) 44 .2 (77) 26 .2 {256)

*T h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n a l l r a t e s f o r c a l v i n g p r o c e s s a n d p a r i t y w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t ( P < 0 . 00 1 ) .

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2 _

%

1 0

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

2 1 2 4 2 7 3 0 3 3 3 6 ~ 3 3 3 6 3 g 4 2 4 5 4 8 ~ < 6 0

7

8 4 9 6 1 08 1

F i g. 1 . R a t e o f i n c i d e n c e o f r e t a i n ed p l a c e n t a ( ) r e l a t ed to ag e ( p e r i o d s o f 3 m o n t h s ) . F i g u r e s

a re g i v en f or p a r i ti e s 1, 2 a n d / > 3 ( s u b s e t A ) . P a r it y 1 a n d 2 ( X ~ : P < 0 . 0 0 5 ; X ~: P > 0 . 0 5 ) . P a r it y

>~3 (XI~:P

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2 5 8

Par i ty 1 Par i ty 2 Par i ty 3

- 17599

- 1 8 3 6 6 /

767

Z~

1 8 8 9 1 ~ . ~ - 4 60

5 2 5 /

I - ~ ~ . 85

1 9 3 7 4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

- - 447 / 4 0 6

/ ~ ,=1

/ 9.2

483

2 . 5

27

+ 3 6 /

F i g . 3 . R e c u r r e n c e o f r e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a . C o n s e c u t i v e c a l v i n g s o f c o w s w i t h ( + ) a n d w i t h o u t ( - )

r e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a ( s u b s e t B ) . U p p e r f i g u r es a re t o t a l n u m b e r s , l o w e r f i g u re s a r e p e r c e n t a g e s .

O u t l i n e d f i g u re s a r e a n a l y s e d a n d d i f f e r s i g n i f i c a n t l y ( P < 0 .0 0 1 ) .

c a l v i n g w e r e 2 . 5 % , 2. 8 % a n d 4 . 1 % , r e s p e c t i v e l y . I n c i d e n c e r a t e s f o r c o w s r e -

t a i n i n g t h e i r p l a c e n t a f o r t h e s e c o n d c o n s e c u t i v e t i m e a t s e c o n d o r t h i r d c a lv -

i n g w e r e 7 .5 % a n d 1 2 .4 % , r e s p e c ti v e l y . W i t h i n p a r i t y g r o u p s , t h e c h a n c e o f R P

f o r a s e c o n d o r t h i r d c o n s e c u t i v e t i m e i n c r e a s e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y [ i n p a r i t y 2 , 2 .8 %

v s . 7 .5 % ( r a t i o 2 . 7 ) ; i n p a r i t y 3 , 4 . 2% v s . 12 .4 % v s . 2 5 .0 % ( r a t i o 3 .0 a n d 6 . 0 ) :

P < 0 . 0 0 1 ] .

T A B L E 4

R a t e o f i n c id e n c e ( % ) o f r e t a i n e d p l a c e n t a r e l a t e d to b i r t h w e i g h t a n d g e s t a t io n l e n g t h p r i o r t o

r e t e n t i o n ( s u b s e t A : si n g l e l i v e c a lf , ea s y o r n o r m a l c a l v i n g )

G e s t a t i o n B i r t h w e i g h t ( k g ) T o t a l n o .

l e n g t h o f c a l v i n g s

( d a y s ) 4 2 7 2 8 - 3 2 3 3 - 3 7 3 8 - 4 2 4 3 - 4 7 >/ 48 T o t a l

260 -26 4 20 .2* 18 .7 14 .3 7 .5 8 .7 6 .8 12 .4 2667

265 -26 9 11 .0 9 .8 8 .0 7 .1 6 .4 6 .6 7 .9 8565

2 7 0 - 2 7 4 4 .8 4 .4 4 .2 4 .3 5 .4 4 ,8 4 ,4 4 4 9 6 7

275 -27 9 3 .7 3 .1 3 .1 3 .3 3 .9 4 .4 3 ,4 118167

280 -28 4 3 .2 3 .8 3 .5 3 .6 4 .6 5 .2 3 .9 97211

285 -28 9 6 .7 3 .1 4 .3 4 .2 5 .2 5 .7 4 .7 34353

290 -29 4 3 ,6 4 ,4 4 .2 5 .3 6 .2 8 .2 5 .9 5577

2 9 5 -2 9 9 - - 8 , 9 1 .9 4 .0 4 .8 5 .5 4 .2 1 0 3 1

T ot a l 6 .1 4 ,6 3 .9 3 .8 4 .6 5 .3 4 .1 312547

To t a l n o . 2 6 9 9 1 7 4 1 4 5 8 8 0 6 1 6 0 4 41 5 6 1 9 2 1 6 9 95 3 1 2 5 4 7

o f

c a l v i n g s

* D i f f e r e nc e s b e t w e e n e x p e c t e d v a l u e s a n d o b s e r v e d v a l u e s w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t ( P < 0 . 0 01 ) .

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T A B L E 5

Ra te o f i nc ide nc e ( % ) o f r e t a ine d p l a c e n t a , b i r t h w e igh t a nd ge s t a t i on l e ng th i n f e m a le a nd m a le

ca lvings ( s ingle l ive cal f, easy or n orm al ca lving ( subse t A ) 47.5 % female an d 52.5% male ca lves )

e x o f c a l f

Fe m a le M a le

% re ta ine d place nta 4 .0* 4.2*

Bi r th we igh t {kg ) 38.9 _+ 4.3 40.7 _+4.8

Ge stat ion leng th (da ys ) 278.7 _+ 5.1 279.1 _ 5.3

*Values for female and male ca lvings di ffe r s igni f icant ly (P < 0.001; % re ta ined p lacenta , P < 0.01 ) .

D I S C U S S I O N

As reported by Roberts (1971), Dyrendahl et al. (1977), Arthur (1979),

Thomps on et al. {'1983) and Larson et al. (1985), abortion, stillbirth, mult iple

birth and dystocia exert a marked influence on the incidence of RP. Still, we

found a 4% incidence of RP in normal calvings. The aforementioned factors

are closely linked to a problematic calving process with all its other complica-

tions, the presence of which will very likely obscure the exact influence of other

factors. Ther efore a da ta set containing data on calvings with a single live calf

and easy or normal calving process was created. In the initial analysis de-

scribed here, each factor was examined separately to provide a more extende d

characterization. This was done in addition to the utilization of an expanded

linear model to be describe, d in a later report .

The risk of RP increased with age of the dam as was also reported by Dyren-

dahl et al. (1977) and Erb and Martin (1980). Dohoo et al. (1984) could not

detect a consistent age pattern, but they did recognize a trend toward lower

rates in heifers. Since the age effect was detected within the par ity groups, the

effect of recurrence can be ignored.

Birth weight and gestation length were somewhat entwined in their influ-

ence on the incidence of RP. Cows most at risk had the combination of low

birth weight and short gestation length ( < 270 days). The effect of the com-

bination became weaker when one of the factors increased, more or less com-

pensating for the other. The effect of short gestation, however, was

predominant . Othe r authors (Muller and Owens, 1974; Larson et al., 1985)

ment ioned a tendency toward heavier calves causing higher RP rates, but dys-

tocia rate was not mentioned.

Sex of the calf had only a slight influence on the RP rate. Male calves were

associated with 0.2% higher rates. It is debatable whether this statistically

significant difference is indicative of a real difference or the number of cases

analysed. Muller and Owens (1974) reported no influence of sex, just as Lar-

son et al. (1985) for par ity 2. In parity 1 the latt er autho rs found higher rates

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260

for males, but since they did not correct for dystocia ( which is related to birth

weight (Thompson et al., 1983 ) - male calves being heavier) this might have

been caused by the increased chance of calving problems in heifers.

Seasonal changes in RP rate followed a unimodal trend. The highest rates

were found during the summer mon ths when the cows were at pasture, and the

lowest rates were found in mid-winter when the cows were housed. A similar

pat tern was foundby Dyrenda hl et al. (1977) and Du Bois and Williams (1980).

By contrast Muller a nd Owens (1974) found high rates during the winte r pe-

riod. Erb and Mart in (1980) a nd Dohoo et al. (1984) de tected no seasonal

pattern. Comparison of these data is difficult. Climate and feed conditions

differ for the regions studied, and other factors ma y also have been of influence.

In the present da ta there was a tende ncy toward older cows calving in spring

and early summer. Since older cows are more prone to RP the variability in

age pattern might to some extent account for the higher RP rates in certain

months. However, a comparison of age pattern and RP rate did not show a

perfect fit. This implies the influence of other fac tors as well. In this respect,

Du Bois and Williams (1980) ment ioned a shorte r gestation length (2.8 days

shorter) in summer than in the cold season (a t endency confirmed by our

results).

Cows having retained placenta were more likely to do so again at a subse-

quent parturition (the chances were approximately three times higher than

average, and even six times as high after two consecutive rete ntions). This is

consistent with the findings of Brands (1966) and Larson et al. (1985). Muller

and Owens (1974) report little tenden cy for recurrence, but this might have

been due to the small numbers analysed.

Apart from describing the variation of incidence rate of RP related to dif-

ferent risk factors, it is interesting to know how many of the RP cases can

actually be explained by the aforemen tioned factors. We will deal with this in

another report.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to thank the A.I. Centre de Kempen and especially Dr. S.W.J.

van Dieten and Drs. H.A.H. van Lieshout for kindly allowing us to make use

of the Centre's birth registration records.

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