This question is a little puzzling. The afterbirth is the placenta that is passed after calving. The follicles on the afterbirth (cotyledons) are the sites where the placenta attaches to the uterus (caruncle). When we talk about follicles, we are usually talking about structures on the ovary. If the afterbirth isn't passed within six hours, you can treat the uterus to help release the afterbirth and decrease the possibility of uterine infection post-calving. We used to think that manually removing the afterbirth was a good idea, but research has shown that using uterine boluses or injectable antibiotics does less damage to the uterus than trying to tear the remaining afterbirth loose. Uterine boluses used to contain different antibiotics including penicillin but don't contain any antibiotics today. We are trying to avoid using antibiotics unless necessary, so most all uterine boluses now contain urea or nolvasan. You can use two to four boluses for each cow, and you put them into the uterus. If the cow doesn't clean after three to four days, you can repeat the boluses. There are several other injectable drugs used to help cows clean, but you would have to contact your local veterinarian to use any of these.

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