Abstract: Methods employing compositions containing a long-acting glucocorticoid, as for example, dexamethasone trimethylacetate, for inducing parturition in cattle up to four to six weeks prior to normal birth and within two to three days after intravenous administration of the glucocorticoid, with low incidence of retention of placenta, in-utero and post partum mortality and high rate of efficacy and parturition synchronization.