Managing postpartum health and cystic ovarian disease

Take Home Messages Parturition is a culmination of one process yet it is a commencement of ano ther major event. In other words, the postpartum cow is in biologic/metabol ic changeover from the stipulations of late pregnancy to the demands of lac tation. The immediate postpartum complications involve the following: hemorrhage, l acerations, and rupture of the reproductive organs, prolapse of the uterus, displaced abomasum, and metabolic diseases. The reproductive problems that develop subsequently are as follows: retaine d fetal membranes, metritis-pyometra complex, cystic ovaries, anestrus, rep eat breeder, and early embryonic death. The goal is to have less pathologic events and high production performance within the constraints of practical and economic reality. The postpartum period forms a very critical part of the calving interval (a nnual reproductive cycle) and influences the duration of this interval. The calving interval is comprised of an elective waiting time, interval from f irst breeding to conception, and gestation length. The achievement of a mean calving to conception interval of 85 to 115 days requires concentrated management activity during the first 90 days followin g calving. Ideally cows should be bred at the first heat after 50 days.