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Retained Placenta in Beef Cows

A cow normally passes the placenta within hours of calving. When she does not, it is a sign to watch her closely and involve your veterinarian.

What a retained placenta is

After the calf is born, the cow expels the afterbirth, called the placenta, usually within a short time. When it stays in the cow longer than expected, it is called a retained placenta. Ask your veterinarian what timing they use as the cut-off for your herd, since it is a matter of professional judgment.

Some cows pass the placenta late without trouble. Others develop infection or become sick, so every case needs attention.

A long-hanging placenta also changes how you handle the cow. Keep her away from open water sources and shared feed where possible, and keep a note of the date so you can tell how long it has been.

Why it happens

There is rarely a single cause. Difficult births, twins, abortions, short or long pregnancies, nutrition gaps, stress and some infections have all been linked to retained placenta. Cows that are thin or lack certain nutrients may also be at higher risk.

Because causes vary, a pattern of several cases in the herd is a reason to talk with your veterinarian and nutritionist rather than treating each cow as a separate event.

• Hard births or assisted calvings
• Twins
• Abortions or early births
• Poor condition or nutrient gaps
• Stress, crowding or dirty calving areas

What to watch for

Check cows after calving and note any whose placenta is still hanging. Watch for signs that the cow is off feed, quiet, running a fever, has a foul-smelling discharge or is dropping milk.

Record the cow's ID, calving date and when you noticed the problem. These notes help your vet decide what to do and spot herd patterns.

If a cow with a retained placenta has a calf at her side, watch the calf too. A sick cow may give less milk, and a thin or weak calf is one more clue that she needs a veterinary visit.

Do not pull it yourself

It is tempting to pull the afterbirth, but forcing it can tear tissue, cause bleeding and lead to infection. Leave management to your veterinarian, who can advise whether to wait, examine the cow or treat her.

Wear gloves, wash up carefully and keep tools clean when handling any birth material. Birth fluids and tissue can carry germs that affect people, and some can cause serious illness.

Reportable disease and abortion

When retained placentas follow abortions or occur in several cows, a reportable disease like brucellosis must be ruled out. Call your veterinarian, the state veterinarian or USDA APHIS right away and do not handle suspect material yourself.

Keep affected cows separate until your vet gives advice, and keep dogs and other animals away from birth material.

Prevention through management

Prevention is mostly good basic management. Feed cows to reach appropriate condition on the 1-to-9 scale at calving, with a mineral and vitamin program set with a nutritionist. Keep calving areas clean and uncrowded, and reduce stress at calving time.

Ask your veterinarian about vaccination and herd health programs that fit your herd, and what to do to lower the chance of abortions.

Selenium, vitamin E and other nutrients are sometimes discussed in connection with retained placenta. Do not add supplements on your own, since some minerals are harmful in excess. Ask your veterinarian or nutritionist what your forage and region actually call for.

Treatment, withdrawal and what to ask

Any medication must be given only under veterinary direction. Meat and milk withdrawal times on the label or set by the vet must be followed exactly, and residue avoidance protects the beef supply. Write down the treatment and the earliest safe sale date.

Ask your vet when to call, how to handle cows after a retained placenta and how to prevent it next year. Ask whether testing is worth doing if more than one cow is affected. Keep a note of how each affected cow does afterward, since cows that struggle once often do again.

• Do not pull the placenta yourself
• Wear gloves and wash up
• Record the cow and the timing
• Follow withdrawal dates exactly

More in Herd Health & Cattle Care

• Uterine Health After Calving
• Annual Herd Health Calendar
• Emergency Disease Outbreak Plan
• Common Beef Cattle Diseases and Early Warning Signs
• Cattle Health Checklist for Spring Calving
• Fall Calving Health Management