Retrospective Study of Vaginal Prolapse and Surgical Correction in Cattle in Cross River State

Vaginal prolapse is a reproductive emergency in cattle that, if untreated, leads to tissue necrosis, septicemia, and death. This retrospective study examines the incidence, predisposing factors, surgical management approaches, and outcomes of vaginal prolapse in cattle presented to veterinary facilities in Cross River State, South South Nigeria, from January 2020 to December 2023. Records of 54 confirmed vaginal prolapse cases were reviewed. Data on parity, nutritional status, prolapse grade, treatment modality, and post-treatment reproductive performance were extracted and analyzed. Grade II and Grade III prolapses constituted 74% of cases. Pluriparous cows in late gestation accounted for 81% of affected animals. Estrogen excess from pasture legume ingestion was identified as a probable contributing factor in 33% of cases. Surgical management combining manual replacement, Buhner suture retention, and vulvoplasty was employed in 68% of cases. Complete tissue devitalization requiring amputation was necessary in 9% of severely necrotic cases. Dam survival was 83%, and subsequent conception rates in medically and surgically recovered cattle were 61% within one breeding season. Nutritional correction and removal from implicated pastures reduced recurrence significantly in monitored herds. These findings provide actionable data for improving reproductive surgical outcomes in cattle in South South Nigeria and support the need for targeted training in obstetric surgery for field veterinarians. Keywords: vaginal prolapse, bovine reproductive surgery, vulvoplasty, Cross River State, cattle obstetrics.