Economic impact of retained placenta in dairy cows

Approximately 75% of diseases in dairy cows occur in the first month after parturition and these problems have their origin associated with the immune system and food consumption two to three weeks before parturition. Diseases related to the reproductive tract, such as retained placenta, can affect reproductive efficiency as well as milk production. The effects of diseases on the physiological processes of animals become economic impacts that can be measured. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic impact of retained placenta on a herd of 900 lactating cows. The diagnosis of placental retention was defined as presence of the placenta 24 hours postpartum. A database was used in the study, from which the following information was extracted: placenta presence 24 hours after calving, year of calving, calving season, and number of semen doses per gestation. In order to calculate the economic impact, the direct costs (treatment, labor, reduction of milk production and milk discharge during the treatment period) and indirect costs (increase in the service period, increase in the number of semen doses and increase of the risk of disposal). The average values related to the costs were obtained from the veterinarian responsible for the property with reference to the year 2009 for the calculations to be carried out. The total cost per occurrence of placenta retention in primiparous cows in the rainy and dry season was US$ 51.8 and in multiparous cows was US$ 70.6 and US$ 87.9 in times of drought and rain, respectively. Retention of placenta presented a cost for the property in the evaluated period of US$ 8,878.0 or 19,666 liters of milk. Retention of placenta presented a significant economic impact on milk production under the conditions evaluated.