Endometritis in Simmental cows: incidence, causes, and therapy options

Authors: ROBERT ZOBEL

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to evaluate endometritis incidence and possible causes, and to assess the different therapy options. From a total of 1300 cows, endometritis was diagnosed in 23.07%, with clinical endometritis in 15.31% and subclinical endometritis in 7.77%. Previous dystocia resulted in 40.59% of the clinical endometritis and 47.52% of the subclinical endometritis (P < 0.05). Placental retention caused clinical and subclinical endometritis in 43.18% and 37.50% of the cows, respectively (P < 0.05). Body condition score 2 resulted in the highest endometritis rate and body condition score 3-4 resulted in the lowest endometritis rate (P < 0.05). Corpus luteum was found in 9.67% of the cows suffering from endometritis, while the rest developed various types of subfertility (P < 0.05). Three groups of cows (A, B, and C) with an almost equal number of clinical and subclinical endometritis diagnoses were formed. All of the groups received prostaglandin analogues (PGF Veyx Forte®, Veyx Pharma) intramuscularly 3 times at 11 day intervals. In group A, only prostaglandins were used; in group B, cephapirin (Metricure®, Intervet Schering-Plough) was administered into the corpus uteri simultaneously with the first 2 doses of prostaglandins; and in group C, the first 2 doses of prostaglandins were followed by the ozone product Riger Spray (Novagen, Italy) applied into the uterus. The criteria applied for the therapy success were the number of cows conceived after the first artificial insemination and the number of days open. The best therapy results were achieved in groups C and B (P < 0.05), with the advantage of no milk and meat withdrawing period in the animals of group C.

Keywords: Cattle, causes, cephapirin, endometritis, incidence, ozone

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