Bovine postparturient metritis is an economically significant problem in most dairy herds. Although mortality is low, morbidity is often high, and systemic illness may result in lowered feed consumption and decreased milk production, as well as losses incurred because of milk dumping due to antibiotic residues in milk from treated cows. Metritis significantly increases days to conception and services per conception, leading to losses 'from reduced milk production associated with longer calving intervals and higher insemination costs. Fertility may be permanently impaired in some cows, causing higher culling rates and the associated increase in replacement costs. Culling because of decreased fertility often results in a loss of freedom to cull for other factors such as low production, and may result in the culling of genetically superior animals.