COMPROMISED UTERINE HEALTH DURING POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN CROSSBRED CATTLE FOLLOWING RETENTION OF FETAL MEMBRANES

Abstract

The postpartum uterine health was determined based upon endometrial cytology (% neutrophil, threshold 
fixed as 18% on day 20 postpartum and <10% on subsequent days) and total bacterial count (colonies per 
unit, CPU) in HF crossbred cattle expelling (n=10) or failing to expel (n=10) fetal membranes spontaneously.  About 40% cattle with retained fetal membranes (RFM) and 80% of their normal counterparts had higher than 
threshold neutrophil count on day 20 postpartum. Total bacterial count revealed the uterus to be sterile on day 40  postpartum only in cattle with no RFM. Thus, the retention of fetal membranes was associated with compromised  uterine health during postpartum period in crossbred cattle.