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Objective: To identify serum biochemical and hematologic variables, as measured in the week before parturition, that predict postpartum retention of the placenta (RP) in dairy cows., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Animals: 1,038 cows in 20 commercial dairy herds., Procedures: Serum concentrations of fatty acids (FAs), beta-hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, glucose, urea, and calcium and blood leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts were determined. These variables were evaluated for an association with development of RP by use of a multivariate logistic regression model. Parity, season of parturition, existence of twins or dystocia, body condition score, and vitamin E treatment were included in the model as covariates., Results: High serum concentrations of cholesterol and FAs were associated with an increased odds of RP. There was a 5% relative increase in the odds of RP for each 0.1 mmol/L increase in cholesterol or FAs concentration in the week before parturition. Season of parturition and twinning were also identified as risk factors., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: These associations indicated that prepartum energy metabolism contributes to the development of RP. Serum concentrations of cholesterol and FAs may be useful to identify cows with a metabolic abnormality or energy imbalance that might predispose them to RP and should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical risk factors such as twinning, dystocia, or parturient paresis.

Objective: To assess the effect of oral administration of CaCl2 gel on blood mineral concentrations, parturient disorders, reproductive performance, and milk production of dairy cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM)., Design: Randomized field trial., Animals: 20 cows that calved normally and were not treated with CaCl2 gel (group 1), 20 cows with RFM that were treated with CaCl2 gel (group 2), and 20 cows with RFM that were not treated with CaCl2 gel (group 3)., Procedure: Group-2 cows were treated orally with CaCl2 gel (54 g of calcium) 24 and 48 hours after parturition., Results: Administration of CaCl2 gel 24 and 48 hours after parturition did not have a significant effect on serum normalized calcium, total calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus concentrations or on incidence of metritis or left displacement of the abomasum, days to first insemination, pregnancy status after first insemination, or milk production., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Administration of CaCl2 gel 24 and 48 hours after parturition did not have significant effect on blood mineral concentrations, parturient disorders, reproductive performance, and milk production in dairy cows with RFM.

Objective: To determine effect of prophylactic treatment of dairy cattle with a calcium chloride gel on serum calcium concentration in the immediate postpartum period and incidence of parturient paresis, retained fetal membranes, and displacement of the abomasum., Design: Randomized controlled trial., Animals: 204 Holstein cows., Procedure: Cows were paired according to parity, whether they had previously had parturient paresis, and expected calving date. Cows in the treatment group received doses of calcium chloride gel 12 hours before expected calving, at calving, and 12 and 24 hours after calving. Cows in the control group did not receive calcium chloride gel., Results: Compared with concentration in the control cows, mean serum calcium concentration in cows treated with calcium chloride gel was significantly increased on postcalving days 1 and 2. The increase was significant only in cows that were third parity or greater. Calcium chloride gel treatment also resulted in significantly reduced incidence of parturient paresis, parturient hypocalcemia, and displaced abomasum. The incidence of parturient paresis was lower in cows that received the precalving dose of calcium chloride gel (0/39) than in cows that did not receive the precalving dose (5/63)., Clinical Implications: Results suggest that periparturient prophylactic treatment of dairy cattle with an oral calcium chloride gel may be beneficial and that treatment would be most effective for cows of third parity or greater. Administration of a precalving dose of calcium chloride gel is necessary to reduce the incidence of parturient paresis, but postcalving treatment alone has other beneficial effects.