At drying off time have cows in about the body condition in which they should freshen. Limit access to high-energy feeds such as corn silage or grain during the dry period. If discharge persists beyond 2 weeks or if the discharge is foul-smelling, this is evidence of metritis. Possible Factors Involved 1. Many cows with retained placenta will develop metritis.
Injuries can also occur at the time of breeding or uterine treatment.
Contamination of the reproductive tract can happen at calving when cows and heifers are highly susceptible to infection. Use of uterine boluses can cause a sterile pus condition due to body reaction to materials contained in some boluses. Selenium or vitamin E deficiency may be associated with metritis. Troubleshooting and Control Suggestions 1. Many of the same conditions that predispose cows to retained placenta contribute to development of metritis.