GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TIPS FOR INFERTILITY CONTROL IN DAIRY CATTLE

GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TIPS FOR INFERTILITY CONTROL IN DAIRY CATTLE

Dr.Chandrakiran Sant, Dairy Advisor, Mumbai

Infertility in Dairy cows in India is a major problem. Here are some finger tips to control the infertility problems in Dairy cattle.

Infertile when they are neither normally fertile nor completely sterile.
-Prevention and control are important to ensure productivity
-Compulsory milk feeding for first 3 months
-Deworming as per schedule
-Should gain weight by the time they are breeding -60-65% of adult body weight or on attaining 13 – 15 months of age
-should maintain good body condition throughout pregnancy
I. Absence of heat- Anoestrus
A. True Anestrus
True anestrous is due to lack of ovarian activity caused by anemia, energy deficiency, low hormone levels, cystic ovaries or pyometra
1 Nutritional
Deficiency of energy, phosphorus, copper, cobalt, manganese etc.
Treatment
-Supplementation with urea molasses copper sulphate licks (UML)
-CuSo4 1% solution 1 oz. daily for 14 days
-Organic phosphorus inj.
-Iodine supplementation(1.3g per day per animal)
 Over-conditioning can also be detrimental

2. High yields
   a.Diet
   High protein, low energy diet results in increased BUN – ( antigonadotropic action)
   Treatment
   Improved feeding particularly the energy intake, supplementation of vitamins and minerals
   UMAL
   b. Postpartum Anestrus
   High yielding cows with insufficient LH surge may lead to anovulatory persistent follicle (follicular cyst).If the animal does not show signs of oestrum by about 45 to 50 days of calving examination of the genitalia and remedial measures should be done
   Treatment
3. GnRH (Buserelin acetate20 mcg preferably i/m one or two injections at 10 days interval
   Cystorelin or fertirelin 100 mcg i/m
4. Single administration of Clomiphene citrate 600mg + 10 ml distilled water intra vaginal
5. Supplementing with UMAL to correct negative energy balance
6. Oestrus synchronization/ovlation synchronization protocols as shown below

3 Seasons
Heat stress is also a major cause of infertility, especially early in pregnancy.
4 Genetic
5 suckling
Suckling and hyper prolactinaemia.High prolactin levels has ant gonadotropic effect which may lead to lactational anoestrum
B. SILENT ESTRUS / SUB OESTRUM
Under hot stressful and humid environment
Nutritional deficiencies (β carotene,P, Cu, Co)
First postpartum estrus
With painful diseases
High lactating cows or obese cows
Hereditary predisposition
Treatment
1-Improve managemental conditions
2–Regular watching of cows
3-Selection against those
4 Application of estrus synchronization in the affected herd
a. Examination of the ovaries. If a functional CL is present; give PGF2α followed by AI at observed oestrum
b .A double PGF2α regimen at 10 – 13 day interval followed by AI at observed oestrum after the second dose
c.Insertion of PRID OR Progesterone implant followed by removal of the same after 10 – 14 days
C. Unobserved Oestrum
Usual in large herds due to ignorance of heat signs, problem of herd size, relatively short duration of heat (6- 8 hrs),nature of housing.
1-Improve managemental

2. Regular watching of cows
   3- Application of estrus synchronization in the affected herd.

(Treatment same as sub oestrum)
D. Anoestrum due to PCL
Normal in pregnancy
Due to Interferences in the endogenous release of prostaglandins, by endometrial glands. Usually associated with uterine pathology such as mummification, maceration, pyometra, hydrometra, mucometra etc Retained corpus luteum causes – anestrum and the affected cases never cycles.
Retained CL becomes deeply embedded, more centrally located, and could not be palpated easily, especially in longstanding cases.
Treatment
Luteolytic dose of PGF2α ( Clostenol 500 ϻ g, Lutalyse 25 mg)
Culling of recurred cases
II.Ovulatory Defects

1. Delayed Ovulation
   Same follicle persisting in the same ovary beyond 12 hour after the end of heat signs resulting in aging of both gametes – with failure of fertilization, cyclic non-breeding syndrome ( regular repeat breeder)
   Diagnosis
   By the history and clinical examination:
   Persistence of mature Graffian follicle on surface of the ovary for 1 or 2 days later).
   Treatment
   a.Second insemination by the next day.
   b. Administration of GnRH GnRH (Buserelin acetate20 mcg preferably i/m) or LH at the time of breedinG
   c. hCG 1500 IU – 3000 IU I/M and a second AI
   d. Skipping the AI, PGF2alpha after 9 days and FTAI
2. Anovulation
   Follicle that develops in the ovary does not ovulate instead undergoes follicular regression and atresia, luteinsation of follicle with subsequent regression or continued follicular growth and cyst formation due to insufficiency of proper gonadotropin stimulation or due to hormonal imbalance
   Treatment
3. Concentrate ration supplemented with vitamins and minerals together with GnRH administration.
4. Same line as in delayed ovulation
5. Cystic ovarian degeneration
   Follicular structures of 2.5 cm in diameter or more – at least 10 days up to several months in dairy breeds in high producing cows, high fat contents with history of ovarian cyst due to deficiency in FSH secretion or improper gonadotropin stimulation, Hereditary deficiency of endometrial glands, marked decrease in the endometrial caruncles (hereditary or pathological).marked reduction in endometrial glands, uterine infection or chronic degenerative changes in the endometrium
   Diagnosis: two successive examinations at two weeks intervals
   Follicle theca cyst, or follicle lutein cyst, or corpus luteum cyst, or small cystic ovarian degeneration
   Symptoms: Nymphomania (follicle theca cyst) or anestrus (other types of cyst)
   Treatment
   1-Induction of ovulation or luteinization by IM injection of GnRH (Buserelin acetate40 mcg preferably i/m) or HCG (3000 to 5000 IU I/V, then followed 8 days later by a single IM injection with a luteolytic dose of PGF2α to reestablish normal estrus cyclicity.
6. Insert PRID OR CIDR. Allow to remain for 10 days so that progesterone released suppresses gonadotropin support for the maintenance of cyst.
   3-Recurred cases should be replaced or discarded from breeding.
   4-Injection of a prophylactic dose of GnRH at the 12th to 14th day postpartum will reduce the incidence of cystic ovary.
   5-Selection against such syndrome
   III. Infections of genital tract
   a. Specific Infections
   -Brucellosis

• Trichomoniasis
  -Campylobacteriosis
  -Leptospirosis
  -Salmonellosis
  -Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVD)
• Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
  b. Nonspecific infections
  Mostly opportunistic pathogens entering genital tract and colonizing due to incomplete apposition of vulvar lips, cervical damage, dystocia, RFM and delayed uterine involution

1. Puerperal metritis
   Occurs within few days after parturition usually accompanied by RFM
   Treatment
   A gentle attempt to remove RFM by external traction can be tried. Don’t explore vagina and uterus with hand.
   If the condition is within three days of parturition give 30 – 50 IU oxytocin to evacuate uterine contents
   Per rectal massaging to evacuate the contents
   Intrauterine administration of nonirritant antiseptics
2. Septic Metritis
   Symptoms of toxaemia ,pyaemia ,anorexia, pyrexia, frequent pulse, diarrhoea, arched back, stiff gait and grunting with each expiration
   Parenteral antibiotics, fluids, antihistaminic and supportive drugs
   Penicillin preparations are less effective
3. Endometritis
   Endometritis is the Inflammation of the endometrium caused by invading organism at coitus, insemination or parturition.
   Predisposing factors include RFM, Twinning, and Induction of parturition, unhygienic calving environment and unhygienic practices during AI, AI in the progestatioal phase, delay in resuming cyclical ovarian activity
   It may cause extension of the calving to conception interval and can also produce sterility by extending calving to conception interval. Profuse oestral discharge, profuse met oestral bleeding are signs suggestive of endometritis
   CLASSIFICATION BASED ON CLINICAL SIGNS
   A. Clinical endometritis
   Mucopurulent vaginal discharge
   B. Subclinical endometritis
   Only manifestation is repeat breeding
   CLASSIFICATION BASED ON DEGREE OF DAMAGE TO ENDOMETRIUM
   A. First Degree
   No clinical signs. Failure of conception is the only manifestation
   B. Second Degree
   Vaginal discharge contains flakes of pus or cloudy discharge
   C. Third degree
   Extreme degrees of endometritis characterized by pyometra with persistence of CL
   Treatment
   A wide range of antiseptics, antimicrobials, antibiotics (alone or in combination)
   PGF2α or its analogues (bringing the animal to oestrogenic phaseb thereby increasing the immune status of genitalia)
   Post Ai antibiotics parenterally
   Flushing the uterus with warmsaline
   Sexual rest
   Immunomodulators
   Bovine insulin
   POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED DURING SELECTION OF THE DRUG
4. Since the uterus contains a wide range of aerobic, anaerobic gram positive and gram negative bacteria the drug of choice should be effective against all/ most of them
5. Since the uterine environment is generally anaerobic the efficacy of selected drug should be looked into. Aminoglycosides and penicillin are not much effective
6. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to development of microbial resistance
7. Many cases of endometritis are self-limiting and resolves after the assumption of ovarian cyclicity
8. Effective MIC should achieved at the infection site by the selected route of administration
9. Several vehicles of the drugs can damage the endometrium like

• Propylene glycol can cause necrotizing endometritis
• Oil can produce granulomata
• Chalky base can cause irritation and blockage of glands

1. Nitofurazone is irritant and has an adverse effect on fertility
2. Aminoglycosides like gentamicin are not effective in the predominantly anaerobic environment of infected uterus
   9 Sulphonamides are ineffective because of the presence of PABA metabolites in the lumen of infected uterus
3. Oxytetracycline at a dose rate up to 22 mg/kg will provide effective MIC in the lumen and uterine tissue
   CERVICITIS
   It doesn’t exist as such, usually associated with endometritis or vaginitis. Infused antibiotics should retain within the lumen of the cervix for sufficient period to get the desired effect
   Cervicitis paint can be tried
   Phenol 1part (5ml)
   Tr. Iodine 1 part (5ml)
   Glycerin 2 parts (10ml)
   20 ml can be infused into the cervix
   REPEAT BREEDING
   Repeat breeder is a clinically normal, regularly cycling animal which is not conceiving even after repeated insemination using semen from a fertile bull.
   Reasons
   Subclinical endometritis
   Ovulatory defects
   Asynchrony between insemination and ovulation
   Luteal insufficiencey
   Anatomical defects of reproductive tract like occlusion of the fallopian tubes that cannot be identified on clinico gynecological examination
   Faulty insemination technique
   Improper storage and defective handling if semen
   Heavy metoestral bleeding
   Treatment
   Very difficult to pinpoint the exact reason will identification of the actual reason in field conditions is possible only after getting the result (response to therapy)
   Double insemination
   AI with antibiotic therapy
   AI with small dose of progesterone (8 – 12 mg)
   Luteolytic dose of PGF2α and AI in induced oestrum in heavy metoestral bleeding
   AI with HCG
   AI with small dose of prostaglandin
   AI followed by high dose of progesterone (250 –500 mg) on the 5th day
   MISCELLANEOUS CAUSES FOR INFERTILITY
   Anatomical defects like double cervix uterine didelphis
   Acquired defects like cervical fibrosis prolapse of cervical ring tumors of different parts of genitalia
   Peritonitis, ovaro bursal adhesion leading to reduced mobility of the ovary, ascending uterine infections,
   Rough palpation of the ovary
   pachy salpinx, adhesion of uterus as in C Section, fibrosis of cervix

Reference-On Request

Please follow and like us: