Publikationsdatenbank

Prevalence of clinical and subclinical endometritis and their impact on reproductive performance in grazing dairy cattle in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (2010)

Art

Hochschulschrift

Autor

Plöntzke, Julia (WE 19)

Quelle

Berlin: Mensch und Buch Verlag, 2010 — 87 Seiten

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/2469

Kontakt

Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung

Königsweg 65
Haus 27
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62618
fortpflanzungsklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Several studies have described prevalence and impact of chronic clinical and subclinical endometritis on reproductive performance in dairy cows. Most of these studies have been conducted in western industrialized countries under intensive housing conditions, giving recommendations for dairy farming worldwide. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of chronic clinical and subclinical endometritis and their impact on reproductive performance in grazing dairy cattle in Argentina. The study was conducted on three commercial dairy farms in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. A total of 243 Holstein dairy cows were examined for signs of clinical endometritis between 18 and 38 days postpartum (dpp) by manual vaginal examination. Vaginal discharge was scored into the categories VDS 0 (transparent, clear mucus), VDS 1 (mucupurulent discharge), VDS 2 (purulent discharge), and VDS 3 (purulent discharge with fetid odor). Cows diagnosed with VDS 1 to VDS 3 were regarded as affected with clinical endometritis and cows with VDS 0 as free of clinical endometritis. Cows without signs of clinical endometritis (VDS 0) were examined for subclinical endometritis with the cytobrush technique. Cows with ≥ 5% polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in the cytological sample were regarded as affected by subclinical endometritis. All cows were reexamined 14 days later following the same examination protocol. Prevalence of clinical endometritis 18 to 38 dpp was 35% and decreased to 18% at reexamination. Cows without palpable ovarian structures at examination or history of periparturient disorders were at higher risk for clinical endometritis. Hazard for pregnancy was lower in cows with VDS 2 and 3 compared with reference VDS 0 (HR = 0.49; P = 0.01), resulting in a lower proportion of cows pregnant by 360 dpp (66% vs 78%). Furthermore, number of services per pregnancy was higher for cows with clinical endometritis than for cows with VDS 0 (4.4 vs 3.1; P = 0.04). Cows with clinical endometritis were 1.6 times as likely to be culled as cows with no signs of clinical endometritis. Prevalence of subclinical endometritis 18 to 38 dpp was 38% and decreased to 19% at reexamination. Subclinical endometritis did not affect the risk of conception after first service, hazards of insemination and pregnancy, respectively. In conclusion in a pasture-based, extensive dairy farming system in Argentina the prevalence of clinical and subclinical endometritis was similar as previously reported from intensive dairy farming systems. Clinical endometritis is a common problem in extensive dairy farming as it has been described for intensive dairy farming negatively impacting subsequent reproductive performance. Subclinical endometritis had no negative impact on reproductive performance.