Uterine involution in Finnish dairy cows

The effect of parity on the cervical and uterine involution was studied in 79 Finnish dairy cows on a research farm. The cows were examined clinically by rectal palpation 3 times a week during 8 weeks postpartum. The diameters of the cervix and uterine horns were estimated manually. The parous uterine horn was compared with the non-parous one. The results were separately analysed in primiparous cows (n = 18) and in those with the third calving (n = 61). A significant difference (p less than 0.001) between the parous and non-parous uterine horns was obtained until 21 days. Thereafter, involution still continued and equal diameters for the horns were not found until 5 weeks after parturition. A decline of the cervical diameter continued until 30 days after the delivery. The parity had no significant effect on the swiftness of uterine or cervical involution. However, in multiparous cows the cervical diameter remained larger than that in the primiparous animals still at 8 weeks postpartum.