Effect of postpartum suppression of ovulation on uterine involution in dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of time of first postpartum ovulation after calving on uterine involution in dairy cows with and without uterine puerperal disease. Transvaginal follicular puncture (FP) of follicles >6 mm suppressed ovulation and development of a CL until Day 42 after calving. Fifty-three lactating Holstein Friesian cows (3.4 ± 1.2 years old, parity 2.5 ± 1.0 [median ± mean absolute deviation]) were divided into groups on the basis of the presence (UD+) or absence (UD−) of uterine disease and whether FP was carried out (FP+) or not (FP−). Uterine disease was defined as the occurrence of retained fetal membranes and/or metritis. This resulted in the following groups: UD−FP− (n = 15), UD−FP+ (n = 13), UD+FP− (n = 13), and UD+FP+ (n = 12). A general examination, vaginoscopy, transrectal palpation, and transrectal B-mode sonography of the reproductive organs were conducted on Days 8, 11, 18, and 25 and then every 10 days until Day 65 after calving. After hormonal synchronization of ovulation (cloprostenol between Days 55 and 60 postpartum and GnRH 2 days later), cows were inseminated in the next spontaneous estrus. On average, the cows ovulated on Day 21.0 ± 6.0 (UD−FP−), 50.0 ± 4.0 (UD−FP+), 16.0 ± 3.0 (UD+FP−), and 48.0 ± 2.0 (UD+FP+) postpartum. Calving-to-conception interval and first-service conception rates were not affected by FP (P > 0.05). Healthy cows with FP had smaller (P < 0.05) uterine horn and cervical diameters assessed sonographically than cows without FP. FP reduced the prevalence of purulent vaginal discharge and uterine size assessed transrectally in UD+ cows (P < 0.05). The results showed that suppression of an early ovulation by transvaginal FP improved uterine involution in cows with and without uterine disease.

Intravaginally administered lactic acid bacteria expedited uterine involution and modulated hormonal profiles of transition dairy cows

“…This assumption is supported by reports from other researchers, such as Smith and Wallace (1998), who showed that cyclicity before 21 DIM resulted in lower pregnancy rates and greater days open. Moreover, some authors have indicated that neither naturally delayed timing to first estrus nor suppressed first ovulation influence final fertility (Sakaguchi et al, 2004;Heppelmann et al, 2013). Additionally, the same authors reported that delayed cyclicity accelerated uterine involution of postpartum dairy cows (Sakaguchi et al, 2004;Heppelmann et al, 2013), which agrees with our observation that TRT1 had fewer cows resuming cyclicity but smaller uterine body size on d 14 compared with TRT2.…”

“…98 No. 9, 2015 possibly PGE 2 , which is known for its relaxing effect on myometrium contractions and immunosuppressive effect on uterine defenses that delays uterine involution (Sakaguchi et al, 2004;Heppelmann et al, 2013). Therefore, it is speculated that in the first 49 d after calving, PGF 2α -driven uterine involution is more crucial for the subsequent fertility.…”

Associations between postpartum phenotypes, cow factors, genetic traits, and reproductive performance in seasonal-calving, pasture-based lactating dairy cows

“…The beneficial effect of early resumption of ovarian cyclicity remains controversial. Some studies reported that early ovulation resulted in greater pregnancies per AI (P/AI) and shorter calving to conception interval (Galvão et al, 2010;Bittar et al, 2014); others, however, reported delayed uterine involution (Heppelmann et al, 2013) and detrimental effects on reproductive performance (Smith and Wallace, 1998). Sheldon et al (2006) proposed a case definition for clinical endometritis as the presence of purulent discharge detectable in the vagina at 21 d or more after parturition.…”

Efecto de la alimentación con desperdicios orgánicos sobre la producción y reproducción de vacas lecheras.

“…This agrees with what was observed in this study, where the interval labor-estrum (ILE) was longer in first-time cows (6.75 weeks in average) and the average of daily milk production (MP) was lower in the cows with lower number of births (one to three). This could be influenced also by other factors that affect the restart of the post-partum ovaric cyclical nature (weight changes and diseases during puerperium), according to what was reported by Heppelman et al (2013). The restart of the ovaric post-partum activity is important in milk production because it increases the probability that the animal will present a short interval between the labor and the conception, and, therefore, the economic yield during its productive life could increase (Teyer et al, 2002).…”

“…Lo anterior concuerda con lo observado en este estudio, donde el intervalo parto-estro (IPE) fue más tardío en las vacas primerizas (6.75 semanas en promedio) y el promedio de producción de leche diaria (PL) fue menor en las vacas con menor número de partos (uno a tres). Esto pudo ser influenciado también por otros factores que afectan el reinicio de la ciclicidad ovárica post-parto (cambios de peso y enfermedades durante el puerperio), de acuerdo con lo reportado por Heppelman et al (2013). El reinicio de la actividad ovárica post-parto es importante en la producción de leche porque aumenta la probabilidad de que el animal presente un intervalo corto entre el parto y la concepción, y, de esta manera, se pueda aumentar el rendimiento económico durante su vida productiva (Teyer et al, 2002).…”