The association of cow-related factors assessed at metritis diagnosis with metritis cure risk, reproductive performance, milk yield, and culling for untreated and ceftiofur-treated dairy cows

Abstract

Our objective was to assess the association of cowrelated factors with metritis cure risk and economically important outcomes. In this prospective cohort study nested inside a randomized clinical trial, cows enrolled in a clinical trial that aimed to evaluate an alternative metritis therapy that had available plasma samples collected at metritis diagnosis were included. Metritis was defined as fetid, watery, reddish-brownish discharge with or without fever, and cure was defined as the absence of metritis signs 12 d after diagnosis. Cows were randomly allocated to remain untreated (CON; n = 147) or receive subcutaneous injections of 6.6 mg/kg of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid at enrollment and 72 h later (CEF, n = 168). Additionally, a random subset of 150 nonmetritic cows (NMET) was also included to compare milk production, reproductive performance, and culling responses. Cow-related factors evaluated include plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, and haptoglobin (Hp), parity, rectal temperature, and days in milk (DIM) at metritis diagnosis, vulvovaginal laceration (VL), BCS, dystocia, twins, and retained placenta. Among CON cows, DIM at metritis diagnosis was positively associated with metritis cure [threshold = 8, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.67], whereas plasma Hp concentration tended to be negatively associated with cure of metritis (threshold = 0.54 mg/mL, AUC = 0.64). Among CEF cows, DIM at metritis diagnosis (threshold = 5, AUC = 0.67) and dystocia were positively associated with metritis cure, whereas VL and Hp (threshold = 0.78 mg/mL, AUC = 0.76) were negatively associated with cure. For CON cows that were diagnosed with metritis after 8 DIM or had plasma Hp concentration ≤0.54 mg/mL, milk pro-duction, pregnancy, and culling risk were comparable to NMET cows. However, performance was impaired when cows that developed metritis at ≤8 DIM or had Hp >0.54 mg/mL were left untreated. Among CEF cows, Hp, DIM at metritis diagnosis, dystocia, and VL were associated with metritis cure. Milk yield, reproductive performance, and culling losses are more pronounced among CEF cows when metritis was diagnosed at ≤5 DIM, Hp >0.78 mg/mL, or if they had VL or dystocia. In conclusion, these data indicate that timing of the onset of metritis and inflammatory biomarkers could be used for the development of a selective therapy strategy for metritis, but more research is needed to identify more accurate predictors of metritis spontaneous cure and treatment failure.

Integration of statistical inferences and machine learning algorithms for prediction of metritis cure in dairy cows

“…It is unclear why these variables were not associated with cure by traditional logistic regression. Machado et al (2020) found no association between parity and cure of metritis at 12 d after metritis diagnosis, consistent with our findings. Also, Lima et al (2014) observed that parity was not associated with cure up to 12 d after enrollment.…”

“…Studies using machine learning have been used to predict cow performance or disease events using large and complex data sets (Shahinfar et al, 2012;Hempstalk et al, 2015). Studies indicate that risk factors for metritis and environmental fac-tors could increase the chance of treatment failure (de Oliveira et al, 2020;Machado et al, 2020). However, there is limited information showing whether or not factors influencing metritis cure in treated and nontreated cows are similar.…”

Cytological endometritis diagnosis in primiparous versus multiparous dairy cows

“…These include metritis, RFM, ketosis, low BCS, and endometritis, which are associated with negative effects on reproductive performance. Prolonged interval from calving to pregnancy has been reported to be associated with metritis (Barański et al, 2012;Giuliodori et al, 2013;Machado et al, 2020), RFM (Martin et al, 1986), ketosis (Rutherford et al, 2016), andlow BCS at 40-60 DIM (van Straten et al, 2009). Ketosis, RFM, and low BCS were also associated with a prolonged interval from calving to first insemination (Martin et al, 1986;van Straten et al, 2009;Rutherford et al, 2016); and ketosis was reported to be associated with lower first AI conception rate as well (Rutherford et al, 2016).…”

Defining clinical diagnosis and treatment of puerperal metritis in dairy cows: A scoping review

“…However, there is limited evidence of the benefit of antimicrobial therapy for PM cases aside from improvement of fever (McLaughlin et al, 2012). A 21.8% spontaneous cure rate has been reported when antimicrobial therapy was delayed until the fifth day postpartum when cows were followed during the first 10 DIM, which could imply a reduction in antimicrobial use in cows with PM that recovered within the first 5 d (Sannmann et al, 2013) or, spontaneous cure 12 d after diagnosis in 64.6% of untreated cows with PM (Machado et al, 2020). Aside from this, there are rising concerns with antimicrobial resistance and pressure toward improving antimicrobial drug stewardship on dairy farms (Tragesser et al, 2006;Taylor et al, 2019).…”