Howdy ya'll, I'm new to the forum. My husband and I have a small (three breed cows) herd of cows. We breed for beef, our own consumption. We have one Hereford/Highland cross, one Charolais/Highland cross and a 3/4 Highland-1/4 Charolais cross (out of our C/H x). Anywho, our Charlois/Highland cross just delivered her fourth calf on Monday 06/06/05. She's never had any problems in the past, easy deliveries and she's a good momma. However, she has a retained placenta, and it is now Friday. My Vet says it is not uncommon and he could remove. But everything I read in the cattle books says cows can retain it for up to 10 days, and that it does more harm than good to remove. I've also read that it doesn't necessarily put them at risk to happen again. So any suggestions??? Leave it alone? What about risk for infection? Thanks, Annie. (By the way, the little bull is the most unique colored bull I've ever seen!! He's a pretty big boy-she's had big calves in the past-and he is slate gray, the color of a Weimaraner dog, with a white face.)