Whether Peripartum Nutritional Supplementation Influence the Uterine Involution and Postpartum Fertility in Crossbred Cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peripartum nutrients supplementation on uterine involution and postpartum fertility in crossbred cows. Twenty healthy advanced pregnant HF crossbred cows between 2-4 parity of identical body size were included in the study from two weeks prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum. They were equally divided into control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment (RFF + bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/day + ASMM @ 50 g/h/day) groups. Animals of both the groups were subjected to per rectal as well as ultrasonographic examinations at weekly intervals from day 7 till day 42 postpartum. On day 7 postpartum, gravid and non-gravid uterine horns in all animals were lying cranial and ventral to pelvic brim in abdominal cavity as large, soft, flabby water bag like structures. The cervical and uterine horn diameters and wall thickness showed a significant decreasing trend from day 7 to 28-35 postpartum with gaining tonicity and elasticity, yet the differences between groups were non-significant. The walls of the cervix and uterus appeared as bright hyperechoic structure, while lumens were found hypoechoic with bright hyperechoic spots. The middle uterine arteries were represented as dark circular anechoic structures and the caruncles as a bright hyperechoic structures. The diameter of artery reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the days postpartum. The gross involution of the uterus was observed to be completed by 24.50±1.14 and 23.80±1.14 days, while the complete uterine involution occurred by days 31.97±1.82 and 30.27±1.41 with occurrence of first estrus postpartum in 42.32±4.14 and 38.00±1.95 days (p<0.05) for control and nutrient supplemented groups, respectively. The service period (85 vs 100 days) and pregnancy rate (80 vs 60%) were non-significantly better in treatment than control group. Thus it can be asserted that the peripartum nutrient supplementation yielded no beneficial effect on uterine involution, but enhanced postpartum fertility in optimally fed and managed crossbred cows.