EVALUATION OF INTRAUTERINE TREATMENT FOR CATTLE SUFFERING FROM RETAINED PLACENTA WITH A PVP-IODINE COMPOUND

106 cattle with retained placenta were treated either with Vetisept-bo lus or Tetran-bolus (controls) after an attempt to remove fetal membra nes. Uterine involution judged by rectal palpation on the 28th day was the same in both groups, but more treatments were necessary for cows of the experimental group. Cows treated with Vetisept came in heat nin e days earlier than controls (p < 0.05). The pregnancy rate of the con trols (91.6%) was better (p < 0.05) than in the experimental group (60 .7%). No significant differences between the two groups were encounter ed for pregnancy index, total index, and service period. Of 82 cows af ter single calving 50 got pregnant again. In 18 of the remaining cattl e another pregnancy was not attempted. The other 14 were bred but did not conceive. Treatment with tetracycline seems to be slightly superio r and safer than the treatment with PVP-iodine. It is uncertain, wheth er the higher (p < 0.05) losses of animals in the experimental group t han in the controls is due to the different treatment, for most of the cows had been slaughtered because of unsufficient milk production. Th erapy with iodine is a recommended alternative to the treatment with t racycline for certain indications.