The study is aimed at determining the etiopathogenesis of reproductive ability disorder among high-producing cows. For this purpose, a group of cows amounting 37 heads was formed following the principle of analogous pairs. The cows were inseminated during the first estrum after calving, and then their blood was drawn using Monovette system taking into account sterility terms. In the drying off period, the blood was drawn 1-4 days before calving and during the first day after calving. Totally 253 blood samples were tested. Proceeding from the results, cows were divided into two groups. The first group included 20 cows impregnated after the first insemination; the second group included 17 not impregnated cows. Later the blood was drawn providing for the parturition process and postpartum period. Blood values were investigated by commonly accepted methods using certified equipment. The study showed that cows during the early gestation have lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system state significantly differing from those among non-pregnant cows. During the gestation, cows have the level and class of general lipids reducing, as well as the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products. Cattles with retained placenta have low lipid metabolism and higher level of peroxidation within interlactation period. After the calving, this difference tends to widen. The obtained data can be used for elaboration of measures preventing post-parturient complications by applying agents with antioxidant properties.

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The aim of the study was to determine the etiopathogenesis of reproductive dysfunction in highly productive cows. Studies were conducted on cows of black-motley breed, aged 3–5 lactations, with a live weight of 480–520 kg. Cows were divided into two groups. The first group included 20 cows effective inseminated after the first insemination. The second group included 17 cows that did not fertilize after the first insemination. Blood samples (n = 253) were taken from 4–7; 14–17; 24–34; 35–50; 88–95; 195–210 days of pregnancy; during the beginning of dry period (DP); 1–4 days before calving and on the first day after calving. The content of total serum lipids in pregnant animals was 15.8% higher compared to unfertilized animals. In non-pregnant cows, a decrease in free cholesterol (by 28.65%), especially in its ether-bound fraction (14.91%), indicates a lower synthetic function of the liver, which is confirmed by the low serum levels of vitamins A and E (a difference of 11.3 and 23.65%). The DP was characterized by a significant increase in the products of lipid peroxidation - malondialdehyde by 12–17%, diene and triene conjugates - by 10–15 and 8–15%, respectively, and 1–4 days before calving in cows, which subsequently had a pathological calving, in particular - retention of placenta (5 cows), were characterized by an increased content in the blood plasma of lipid peroxidation products. Thus, the difference in the number of dienes, trienes, and malondialdehyde products was 14.0, 12.0, and 23.5%, compared with animals without obstetric pathology. On the first day after calving, this difference increased even more. Cows with retention of placenta had a significantly higher level of lipid peroxidation products and were characterized by a predominance of oxidized products over the antiradical thiol disulfide and ascorbate systems restored in the antioxidant balance.

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Inflammatory diseases of the uterus are one of the main causes of decreased fertility and infertility in dairy cows. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the immunobiochemical and morphological parameters of the blood of dairy cows with pyometra. 20 cows with pyometra (G1) and 15 cows without visualized reproductive pathology (G2) were selected using transrectal ultrasound. The blood test showed that in G1 there was the decrease in the level of total protein to 73.69 ± 1.06 gr/l, which was 11.1% lower (P<0.001) than in the G2. The concentration of albumin in G1 was 34.23 ± 0.56 gr/l, which was 17.5% less (P<0.001) in comparison with the G2. The creatinine level in the G1 was 19.2% higher (P<0.01) and it amounted to 98.30 ± 4.92 μmol/l, and the urea level was 6.34 ± 0.37 mmol/l, which was 1,6 times higher (P<0.001). The AST activity in the cows from G1 was 100.06 ± 5.53 units/l, which was 19.4% higher (P<0.05), with the ALT activity was the same. The amount of low and medium molecular weight substances adsorbed on the surface of erythrocytes in the G1 was 15.4% higher, and those associated with plasma albumin was 21.8% higher (P<0.001). The immunological indicators in the G1 were characterized by the increase in the total immunoglobulins level by 63.2% (P<0.001), the concentration of which was 20.58 ± 1.13 mg/l. The content of circulating immune complexes of large and small sizes in the blood was 11.82 ± 0.88 optical density and 1.84 ± 0.06 optical density respectively, which was 2 times higher (P<0.001) than the indicator of healthy cows. The morphological pattern of blood in the G1 was characterized by leukocytosis ‐ 10.08 ± 0.86 *109/l (the increase in the concentration of leukocytes by 17.2%, P<0.05), the decrease in the concentration of erythrocytes by 4.7% (P<0, 05) ‐ 6.35 ± 0.10 *1012/l and platelets by 42.8% (P<0.05) ‐ 176.88 ± 22.16 *109/l. There was qualitative redistribution of white blood cells: the increase in the concentration of neutrophils by 6.6%, eosinophils by 6.3 times (P<0.001), the decrease in lymphocytes by 15.8% (P<0.001). Thus, associated with pyometra in dairy cows, changes in protein and nitrogen metabolism are observed: the level of total protein is decreased, the level of globulins is increased, the level of urea and creatinine is increased, and the AST activity is increased. The immunological indicators are characterized by the increase in the level of total immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes, and in the morphological blood pattern of the cows with pyometra, one can observe leukocytosis with granulocytic cells predominating over agranulocytes.