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The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to evaluate the association among abnormal calving, parity, and season on the incidence of puerperal metritis (PM) and clinical endometritis (CE) during d 3 to 13 and 20 to 30 postpartum, respectively; 2) to describe the rectal temperature (RT) of cows with PM before diagnosis; and 3) to document associations among PM, CE, and reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows. This study followed a prospective observational study design. Cows were classified as having an abnormal calving status (AC), i.e., cows calving with dystocia, twins, retained fetal membranes, or some combination of these conditions, and having a normal calving status (NC). Daily RT was recorded from d 3 to 13 postpartum for all cows, and health examinations were performed on cows that appeared not well. A total of 450 calvings were evaluated. Cows with an AC had greater odds of PM than cows with NC [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.9 to 8.0). A season by parity interaction showed that primiparous cows that calved during the warm season had lower AOR of PM than during the cool season (0.24; 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.62), whereas multiparous cows did not have seasonal effects on PM (1.43; 95% CI = 0.65 to 3.18). Cows with AC have greater AOR for CE than cows with NC (2.8; 95% CI = 1.7 to 4.9), and greater AOR of CE were detected in cows diagnosed with PM than in cows without PM (2.2; 95% CI = 1.1 to 3.9). Rectal temperature in cows with PM increased significantly 24 h before diagnosis of PM, reaching 39.2 ± 0.05°C on the day of diagnosis. In cows with PM and fever at diagnosis, the RT began to increase from 72 to 48 h before the diagnosis of PM and continued to increase to 39.7 ± 0.09°C on d 0 (day of diagnosis). Nonetheless, cows with PM without fever at diagnosis had no daily increases in RT before diagnosis of PM. Still, the RT on d 0 was different from cows without PM. Cows without PM had a stable RT (38.6 ± 0.01°C). There were no detected differences in first-service conception risk or cumulative pregnancy risk by 150 d postpartum between cows with or without PM. Still, a season effect on first-service conception AOR (warm vs. cool = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.18 to 0.72) and accumulated pregnancy AOR by 150 d postpartum was detected (warm vs. cool = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.33). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows bred by natural service (NS) or timed AI (TAI). One thousand fifty-five cows were blocked by parity and enrolled to receive either NS or TAI. Cows in both groups were presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF2α given at 42 and 56 d postpartum. Fourteen days after the last PGF2α injection, cows in the TAI group were enrolled in an Ovsynch protocol (d 0 GnRH; 7 d later, PGF2α; 56 h after PGF2α injection, second dose of GnRH; and 16 h after second GnRH cows were TAI). Cows in the TAI group were resynchronized with an intravaginal insert containing progesterone inserted 18 d after TAI and removed 7 d later when GnRH was given. Cows were examined by ultrasonography on d 32 after TAI; nonpregnant cows received PGF2α and GnRH 56 h later followed by TAI 16 h after the GnRH injection. Nonpregnant cows in TAI group were reinseminated up to 5 times using the same scheme. Cows in the NS group were exposed to bulls 14 d after the second PGF2α injection, and ultrasonography was performed 42 d after exposure to bulls to determine pregnancy status. Nonpregnant cows in the NS group were reexamined by transrectal palpation combined with ultrasound every 28 d until diagnosed pregnant or 223 d postpartum, whichever occurred first. Cows diagnosed pregnant in TAI or NS were reconfirmed 28 d later to determine pregnancy loss. All bulls underwent an evaluation of breeding soundness and were rested for 14 d after 14 d of cow exposure. Health disorders were evaluated up to 70 d postpartum, and body condition score was evaluated at d 70 postpartum. Blood was collected on d 56 and 65 postpartum and analyzed for progesterone to determine cyclicity. The proportion of pregnant cows in the first 21 d of breeding did not differ between groups. The overall 21-d cycle pregnancy rate (PR), which included a total of 8 and 5 service opportunities for NS and TAI, respectively, was not different between groups (25.7 and 25.0% for NS and TAI, respectively). The daily rate of pregnancy was 15% greater for NS than TAI because cows in NS had a greater PR, which resulted in fewer median days open (111 vs. 116 d). Proportion of pregnant cows at 223 d postpartum was greater in the NS than TAI group (84.2 vs. 74.8%, respectively). Cyclicity did not affect reproductive performance. Cows with body condition score ≥2.75 had greater proportion of pregnant cows in the first 21 d of breeding and daily PR in the first 223 d postpartum Primiparous cows had greater proportion of pregnant cows and daily PR than multiparous cows at 223 d postpartum. In conclusion, the greater proportion of pregnant cows in the NS group was attributed to more opportunities for breeding than in the TAI group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Ovsynch protocol with and without exogenous progesterone on pregnancy rate (PR) in cows in which estrous cycles were previously synchronized with 2 doses of PGF2α and that were not detected in estrus during the presynchronization period. The study was conducted in Chihuahua, Mexico (8,650 Holstein milking cows; 305-d mature equivalent milk yield = 13,790 kg). On d 47 postpartum, estrous cycles in cows were synchronized by using 2 doses of PGF2α 14 d apart. Any cow detected in estrus during this presynchronization period was inseminated. Cows not detected in estrus were selected at random and assigned to receive progesterone supplementation or to serve as controls. Controls (n = 594) were subjected to the Ovsynch protocol and cows in the progesterone supplemented treatment (n = 594) were subjected to the Ovsynch protocol plus an intravaginal insert containing 1.9 g of progesterone inserted at the time of the first GnRH injection and removed 7 d later. Progesterone-supplemented cows had a greater PR (31.2%) compared with controls (22.7%). Plasma progesterone concentrations at artificial insemination (AI) were <1 ng/mL and did not differ between treatments. At 14 d post-AI, however, more cows that received progesterone supplementation had concentrations of progesterone >1 ng/mL compared with controls. It was concluded that after a presynchronization period, cows subjected to the Ovsynch program and supplemented with exogenous progesterone had a greater PR and greater concentrations of progesterone after AI than those subjected to the Ovsynch protocol and not supplemented with progesterone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare the economic benefits of timed artificial insemination (AI) and a progesterone insert as therapeutic treatments for cows diagnosed with cystic ovarian disease (COD). A secondary objective was to illustrate the use of a stochastic dynamic simulation model to fully account for all changes in revenues and costs affected by differences in treatments. First, 4 herds of 1,000 cows each were simulated until steady state. These cows were free from COD and inseminated based on estrus only. Herds differed by probability of estrus detection (46 or 70%) and days in milk (DIM) when nonpregnant cows were culled (330 or 400 d). Second, 3 herds were created with 1,000 nonpregnant cows at 90, 170, or 250 DIM. These cows were considered diagnosed with COD at the start of the simulation (d 0); no new cases of COD developed after d 0. Cows spontaneously recovered or were treated. Treatments were either timed AI or intravaginal device containing progesterone followed by PGF2a, and then AI if estrus was detected. Effects of treatments were evaluated in 48 scenarios based on compliance of timed AI (82 or 100%), probability of estrus detection (46 or 70%), and DIM when nonpregnant cows were culled (330 or 400 d). As cows became pregnant or were replaced, the herd evolved into the associated steady-state herd. Seven scenarios resulted in less than 50% of cows conceiving before they were culled. The percentage of cows diagnosed with COD that calved again ranged from 14.0 to 74.4% and was significantly reduced when COD was diagnosed later in lactation. Treatments in all cases were more valuable than waiting for spontaneous recovery. The average values of timed AI (82 or 100% compliance) and the progesterone insert were $83.29, $86.83, and $71.89, respectively, compared with waiting for spontaneous recovery. Treatments were least beneficial at 90 DIM. The benefits of timed M (82 or 100% compliance) compared with the progesterone insert, adjusted for DIM and days to culling, were $14.98 and $21.53 when the probability of estrus detection was 46%. At 70% probability of estrus detection, the benefits were $7.81 and $8.34, respectively. Overall benefit of treatment by timed AI was $11.39 greater than by progesterone insert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a monensin controlled-release capsule administered intraruminally at dry-off on rumen volatile fatty acids, NH3, lactate, pH, and energy blood metabolites in transition dairy cows fed Florida typical diets. In March 2003, 24 cows (10 primiparous and 14 multiparous) dried-off 50 to 70 d before expected parturition were randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 12, oral capsule of monensin) or a control group (n = 12, no capsule). Both groups received the same diet and were exposed to the same environment and management conditions. At assignment, at 21 d before expected parturition, at calving, and at 7, 14, and 21 d postpartum, blood samples were taken and body condition scores were determined. At 10 d postpartum, rumen and blood samples were obtained in the morning before the first feeding and at 2, 4, and 6 h after feeding. Serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and glucose were measured. Rumen samples were analyzed for concentrations of acetic, propionic, butyric, L- and D-lactic acids, and NH3. Data for rumen and blood metabolites were analyzed by ANOVA, mixed models for repeated measures. Volatile fatty acids were not different between groups. Multiparous treated cows had a significant reduction in rumen NH3 at 6 h after feeding. Treatment with monensin significantly increased body condition score at calving in multiparous cows. During the postpartum period, NEFA and BHBA were noticeably lower in treated than in control primiparous cows. This difference was not observed in multiparous cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the effect of 2 doses of PGF2α injected early postpartum on uterine involution, serum concentration of acute phase proteins at 12 d postpartum, and fertility in Holstein cows with acute puerperal metritis. Only cows diagnosed with retained fetal membranes and metritis and treated with ceftiofur hydrochloride for 5 d were used in the study. Two hundred cows were assigned randomly to be treated (n = 100) or to serve as controls (n = 100). Treatment consisted of 2 i.m. injections of PGF2α 8 h apart on d 8 postpartum. A subsample of 90 cows was selected randomly (45 treated cows; 45 controls) to evaluate uterine diameter using ultrasonography, uterine score, and serum concentrations of acute phase proteins at 12 d postpartum. The outcome variable for all cows was conception rate at first service. Postpartum, primiparous, treated cows had smaller uterine diameters and lower uterine scores than controls. Cows with a uterine diameter < 5.1 cm at 12 d postpartum were 5.5 times more likely to conceive at first service than cows with larger uterine horn diameter. Treatment significantly reduced the concentrations of serum α1-acid glycoprotein. Within primiparous cows, treatment also increased conception at first service by 17%. It was concluded that 2 doses of PGF2α 8 h apart at 8 d postpartum in primiparous cows with acute puerperal metritis decreased the diameter of uterine horns and serum concentration of α1-acid glycoprotein at 12 d postpartum and increased the conception rate at first service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]