EXPLORING THE ROLE OF FETAL PITUITARY IN PROLONGED GESTATION: A CASE STUDY OF A JERSEY CROSSBRED COW

Abstract

Prolonged gestation in cattle can have various causes, including pituitary abnormality which can disrupt the physiological mechanism of parturition. In this case study, a 3-year-old Jersey crossbred cow with suspected pituitary hypoplasia was treated with dexamethasone and cloprostenol sodium to terminate her pregnancy after 15 months. A dead male calf was vaginally delivered within 48 hours, and histopathological analysis revealed an underdeveloped pituitary. The cow was then treated with oxytocin and successfully inseminated twice after showing estrus signs. The role of the fetal pituitary gland in parturition and the difficulty in reversing this process once it has started are also discussed. Diagnosis of prolonged gestation may involve rectal examination, ultrasonographic scans, and fetal fluid analysis. Treatment for inducing parturition in cows typically involves administering cloprostenol and dexamethasone. This case highlights the importance of considering pituitary abnormality as a possible cause of prolonged gestation in cattle and the need to manage such cases with minimal harm to the cow.