Induction of parturition in conjunction with antibiotic treatments

Parturicion was induced in pregnant beef cows and heifers with 15 mg of flumethasone to test: 1) the effects of an orally active antibiotic on flumethasone induction of parturition success rate and incidence of retained placenta and 2) the effects of injectable long acting and orally active antibiotics on subsequent fertility and offspring performance. Gestation length and birth weight were not significantly changed. There were no significant differences among calving ease scores even though induction significantly improved vigor. Induction caused a significant increase in the incidence of retained placental membranes. Pregnancy rate (P<.01) and conceptions per service (P<.05) were lower for those animals affected with retained placentas. There were no significant differences among actual weaning weights for the three treatment groups or between adjusted weaning weights for the control and the orally active antibiotic groups, however, the adjusted weaning weights of calves from cows receiving an orally active antibiotic were significantly greater than those receiving an injectable long acting antibiotic (P<.10).