Endometritis reduces milk yield curve and leads to reduced conception rates which can lead to premature culling. The cost implications of a high incidence of endometritis can be very substantial.
Cause
Two separate processes happen after calving in order for a cow to become pregnant again, the ovaries must begin to cycle again and the womb must undergo a process of returning to normal size (involution). Resumption of ovarian activity is affected by a variety of issues such as suckling, nutrition, breed, season etc. Though many cows ovulate for the first time within one month post-calving. Involution usually takes between 30 and 50 days.
In normal cows, involution is usually a process where bacteria infect the womb causing a mild inflammation which clears quickly and has no adverse effect on fertility. The speed of involution depends largely on the degree of infection with harmful bacteria. Endometritis is where the womb becomes infected with this harmful bacteria and is a very common disease.
Many risk factors can affect the incidence of endometritis. The most common precursor to endometritis is the holding of placenta (cleaning, page 54) after calving and the risk factors for that are common to endometrtitis. Risk factors are related to difficult calving, where the womb and birth canal may be damaged during calving. Issues such as foetal oversize, foetal malposition, a failure of the cow to open properly can give rise to endometritis. Cows which abort or calve prematurely are more likely to hold the cleaning and develop endometritis, as are cows which have been induced.
Symptoms
There are three different forms of endometritis that cows can develop which are:
• Acute post-partum endometritis (metritis): This occurs in the period between calving and ten days post calving, with peak incidence in the period five to nine days post-calving. This syndrome is characterised by a decline in appetite and milk yield, moderate depression, mild fever and a variable amount of visible external vaginal discharge. In this case cows are very sick and need prompt veterinary treatment.• Sub-acute and chronic endometritis: This occurs in the period up to 14 days after calving. These forms of endometritis are characterised by animals with (usually) normal appetite and milk yield but abnormal purulent vaginal discharge (which is commonly not visible externally). Cows may be cyclic or non-cyclic, but in either circumstance fertility is impaired.• Pyometra: This can also occur during the same period as sub-acute and chronic endometritis but is characterised by the presence of a persistent corpus luteum (CL) on the ovary in tandem with the womb becoming a large bag of pus. The presence of the CL will prevent the cow from cycling. Treatment
It has been shown that less than half of cases diagnosed as having endometritis by internal visual examination of the vagina have any external discharge greatly reducing the chances of detection. It has also been shown that even internal examination of cows can miss a large proportion of affected cases. Probably a better way of managing endometritis is to deal with it on a pro-active, rather than reactive basis. Involving your vet in routine herd fertility visits will actually pick up these cases earlier. Some herds use a pre-breeding scan to actively seek out cases of endometritis, and to treat cases. This should be considered if there is a history of endometritis.
Acute endometritis is probably the least common form of endometritis as it involves a systemically ill cow. It is best treated with systemic antibiotics and may also require anti inflammatories and intravenous/oral fluids.
Subacute or chronic endometritis is by far the most common form of endometritis, though it is largely under-diagnosed by both farmers and vets due to the limitations in diagnostic tools.
Treatment options include the use of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are effective in treating sub-acute and chronic endometritis when a functional corpus luteum is present on the ovaries. It is probably advisable to have your veterinarian examine suspect cases, in order to determine if a corpus luteum is present before treatment with prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are really the only treatment option for pyometra in conjunction with intra-uterine antibiotics though success rates in these cases can be low.
Prevention and control
Management issues remain critical to success. Keeping a close eye on body condition score in late pregnancy, at calving and in the weeks after calving will not only minimise problems in the calving process but also impact on health issues when cows are going back in calf. Farmers should dedicate time to this process and consider independent assistance from your local vet or agricultural advisor.
Reducing abnormalities at calving such as difficulty or assisted calving can greatly reduce the incidences of endometritis. This can be influenced by sire selection and nutrition in late pregnancy among other factors.
Reducing retained cleanings and ketosis is also affected by nutrition in late pregnancy and early lactation. Mineral deficiencies can lead to retained afterbirths and it is important to supplement dry cows for at least six weeks before calving, to minimise the prevalence of retained afterbirths. Endometritis is far more common than most farmers are aware of. With an increased focus being placed on fertility issues with both suckler and dairy cows, this is an area that every farmer should aim to improve on.
Endometritis reduces milk yield curve and leads to reduced conception rates which can lead to premature culling. The cost implications of a high incidence of endometritis can be very substantial.
Cause
Two separate processes happen after calving in order for a cow to become pregnant again, the ovaries must begin to cycle again and the womb must undergo a process of returning to normal size (involution). Resumption of ovarian activity is affected by a variety of issues such as suckling, nutrition, breed, season etc. Though many cows ovulate for the first time within one month post-calving. Involution usually takes between 30 and 50 days.
In normal cows, involution is usually a process where bacteria infect the womb causing a mild inflammation which clears quickly and has no adverse effect on fertility. The speed of involution depends largely on the degree of infection with harmful bacteria. Endometritis is where the womb becomes infected with this harmful bacteria and is a very common disease.
Many risk factors can affect the incidence of endometritis. The most common precursor to endometritis is the holding of placenta (cleaning, page 54) after calving and the risk factors for that are common to endometrtitis. Risk factors are related to difficult calving, where the womb and birth canal may be damaged during calving. Issues such as foetal oversize, foetal malposition, a failure of the cow to open properly can give rise to endometritis. Cows which abort or calve prematurely are more likely to hold the cleaning and develop endometritis, as are cows which have been induced.
Symptoms
There are three different forms of endometritis that cows can develop which are:
• Acute post-partum endometritis (metritis): This occurs in the period between calving and ten days post calving, with peak incidence in the period five to nine days post-calving. This syndrome is characterised by a decline in appetite and milk yield, moderate depression, mild fever and a variable amount of visible external vaginal discharge. In this case cows are very sick and need prompt veterinary treatment.• Sub-acute and chronic endometritis: This occurs in the period up to 14 days after calving. These forms of endometritis are characterised by animals with (usually) normal appetite and milk yield but abnormal purulent vaginal discharge (which is commonly not visible externally). Cows may be cyclic or non-cyclic, but in either circumstance fertility is impaired.• Pyometra: This can also occur during the same period as sub-acute and chronic endometritis but is characterised by the presence of a persistent corpus luteum (CL) on the ovary in tandem with the womb becoming a large bag of pus. The presence of the CL will prevent the cow from cycling. Treatment
It has been shown that less than half of cases diagnosed as having endometritis by internal visual examination of the vagina have any external discharge greatly reducing the chances of detection. It has also been shown that even internal examination of cows can miss a large proportion of affected cases. Probably a better way of managing endometritis is to deal with it on a pro-active, rather than reactive basis. Involving your vet in routine herd fertility visits will actually pick up these cases earlier. Some herds use a pre-breeding scan to actively seek out cases of endometritis, and to treat cases. This should be considered if there is a history of endometritis.
Acute endometritis is probably the least common form of endometritis as it involves a systemically ill cow. It is best treated with systemic antibiotics and may also require anti inflammatories and intravenous/oral fluids.
Subacute or chronic endometritis is by far the most common form of endometritis, though it is largely under-diagnosed by both farmers and vets due to the limitations in diagnostic tools.
Treatment options include the use of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are effective in treating sub-acute and chronic endometritis when a functional corpus luteum is present on the ovaries. It is probably advisable to have your veterinarian examine suspect cases, in order to determine if a corpus luteum is present before treatment with prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are really the only treatment option for pyometra in conjunction with intra-uterine antibiotics though success rates in these cases can be low.
Prevention and control
Management issues remain critical to success. Keeping a close eye on body condition score in late pregnancy, at calving and in the weeks after calving will not only minimise problems in the calving process but also impact on health issues when cows are going back in calf. Farmers should dedicate time to this process and consider independent assistance from your local vet or agricultural advisor.
Reducing abnormalities at calving such as difficulty or assisted calving can greatly reduce the incidences of endometritis. This can be influenced by sire selection and nutrition in late pregnancy among other factors.
Reducing retained cleanings and ketosis is also affected by nutrition in late pregnancy and early lactation. Mineral deficiencies can lead to retained afterbirths and it is important to supplement dry cows for at least six weeks before calving, to minimise the prevalence of retained afterbirths. Endometritis is far more common than most farmers are aware of. With an increased focus being placed on fertility issues with both suckler and dairy cows, this is an area that every farmer should aim to improve on.
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