Retention of fetal membranes, or retained placenta, in cows usually is defined is defined as failure to expel fetal membranes within 24 hours after parturition. Normally the expulsion occurs within eight hours after delivery of the calf. The placenta is retained when the cotyledons on the placenta do not detach from the caruncles on the uterus during parturition. Although retained placenta is rare in most cow herds, this year I am hearing that producers are seeing a higher incidence of this problem.
Retained placenta creates the potential for problems. It hangs from the vulva which…
