Reproductive Disorders

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Reproductive Disorders

• AVS 346
• Dairy Cattle Technology

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Major Causes of Reproductive Problems

• Heat Detection
• Efficiency
• Accuracy
• Conception Rate
• Cow Fertility
• Postpartum Energy Balance
• Reproductive Disorders
• Retained Placentas
• Uterine Infections
• Cystic Ovaries
• Semen Handling Insemination Technique

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Effects of Reproductive Disorders On Reproductive
Performance

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Retained Placentas
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Retained Placentas

• Definition - Placenta is retained more than 12
  hours after calving
• Placenta acts as wick bringing in bacteria
• Beginning of Reproductive Disorder Cascade
• Cow is more susceptible to other problems
• Metritis
• Cystic ovaries
• Low milk production
• Culling as a problem breeder
• Major cause of problem breeders
• Ask is "How many cows are cleaning normally?"

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Incidence of Retained Fetal Membranes
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Retained Placentas

• Goal - 10-15
• Action Level - 20-25. 

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Causes of Retain Placentas

• Dystocia
• Twins
• Uterine Contamination
• Abortion
• Infectious Diseases
• Selenium Vitamin E - Most common cause in this
  area.
• CAP Imbalance
• Milk Fever Complex - Calcium affects uterine
  muscle tone
• Fat Cow Syndrome
• Vitamin A or Carotene

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Prevention of Retained Placentas

• Many RP's are preventable especially if nutrition
  is the cause.
• Consult with a nutritionist on the dry cow
  ration.
• Energy, Protein, Se, Ca, Vitamins A, D E
• Supplementation of selenium and vitamin E by
  injection (Muse, Bose) at dry off.
• Body condition score cows to avoid fat cows
• Dry off, calving and peak production
• Maintain a comprehensive vaccination program as
  recommended by your veterinarian to reduce
  abortions.

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Treatment of RPs

• Do nothing
• Provided the cow continues to eat, doesn't get
  sick or runs a fever
• Bacteria in tract should take care of it
• If sick, treat systemically with antibiotics
• No intrauterine boluses
• Treatment with prostaglandins
• Most effective if given within two hours of
  calving
• Too early in many
• Dystocias, twins, abortions etc.
• Treatment with oxytocin
• Have the vet check RP cows early and often

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Cystic Ovaries

• Incidence - 30 of cows each lactation
• Many cysts (50) and uterine infections will go
  unnoticed if vet doesnt check postpartum cows. 
• Action level 15-20
• Two types
• Follicular - High levels of estrogen produced
• Luteal - High levels of progesterone produced
• Can diagnose difference with milk progesterone
  test

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Causes of Cystic Ovaries

• Primary Reason
• Lack Adequate LH Surge
• Secondary Reasons
• Calving Problems
• Milk Fever, RP, Metritis, Mastitis and Other
  Illness
• Stress
• High Milk Production
• Hot Cold Temperatures
• Genetics European studies show reduction with
  selection.
• Deficiency of Selenium, carotene, Vitamin A or E
  (Stored Hay)
• High Estrogen Intake
• Green chopped legumes - Clovers and alfalfa
• Moldy Feeds
• Estrogen treatments used to treat metritis
• Wide CA P Ratio - Over supplementation of
  Calcium
• MGA treatment of feedlot heifers

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Diagnosis of Cystic Ovaries

• Palpation or ultrasound
• presence of a large (20-50mm) persistent
  fluid-filled structure on the ovary. 
• Ovary enlarged
• Polycystic - more than one fluid structure
• May be thick or thin walled
• Very difficult for even experienced vets to tell
  whether they are follicular or luteal by
  palpation
• Erratic estrous cycles
• Anestrus - More common 
• Chronic bulling - Cow is in heat all the time
• Tail hump

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Ultrasound
Normal Follicle
Follicular Cyst
Luteal Cyst
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Prevention of Cysts

• Reduce stress
• Controlling postpartum diseases
• Balance dry and fresh cow ration to reduce
  nutritional stress. Lead feed concentrates.
• Check for moldy feeds
• Cull problem cows and cow families with history
  of cysts

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Treatment of Cysts

• 50 Spontaneous cure rate
• Follicular - treat with GnRH or HCG
• 60 Cure with treatment
• Luteal - Prostaglandins
• if in doubt as to type, treat with both 
• GnRH and Prostaglandins
• Both at same time
• GnRH followed 7-10 days by PG
• Use of milk progesterone test to determine type

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Uterine Infections

• Average incidence depends when cows are checked
• Part of normal postpartum uterine involution -
  Most cows infected immediately following calving
• Action Level 15 - 20,
• Different types
• Metritis - Infection of the uterine wall, glands
  and muscle layers
• Endometritis endometrium and glandular tissue
• Pyometra - Large accumulation of fluids (pus)

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Incidence of Uterine Infections
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Causes of Uterine Infections

• Retained Placenta
• Dystocia, Damage to Tract
• Contamination at Calving
• Use of Uterine Boluses
• Unsanitary Examinations or AI
• Inseminating cows not in heat
• Venereal Diseases
• Water Contamination
• Tract Abnormalities
• Embryonic or Fetal Death

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Hormonal Treatment of Uterine Infections

• Prostaglandins - Drug of choice
• Causes contractions
• Causes heat
• Important in the treatment of pyometra
• Usually associated with a persistent CL
• Oxytocin - Evacuate uterus
• Large dose after calving

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Other Treatments

• Systemic antibiotics
• Probably second most recommended treatment
• Must give large doses for several days and milk
  must be withheld
• Uterine infusions
• Antibiotics - sensitivity, withhold milk
• Tetracyclines, Penicillin
• Disinfectants - no withholding - Effectiveness?
• Nolvasan, Iodine, Other
• Uterine boluses
• Questionable - binder used to make pill
• Antibiotic Important
• Sulfa Urea - Most bacteria in uterus post calving
  not susceptible to sulfa 
• Oxytet and Neomycin boluses may be more
  effective 

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Prevention of Uterine Infections

• Clean, dry, sanitized and separate calving area.
• Prevent retained placentas
• Balance fresh cow rations
• Frequent and routine postartum checks
• Keep infusion and insemination equipment clean.
  make clean entry into the tract
• Don't breed cows with abnormal discharges
• Use breeding sheaths

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Disease Complex
Erb, H.N. et al. 1985. J Dairy Sci