Unconventional strategies for enhancing peri- and post-parturient health and reproductive performance in dairy cows
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Date
2018-01-10
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (J&K)
Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of periparturient complications; immuno-prophylactic effect of levamisole in limiting periparturient complications and neonatal calf mortality; efficacy of immunomodulators in enhancing postpartum fertility and milk hygiene; and to study impact of human-animal interactions on performance of dairy cows. Retrospective screening of farm records of from 2011 to 2015 revealed 19.06% prevalence of metritis/endometritis in Jammu region. Prevalence of abortion, ROP and endometritis was higher (p<0.05) in monsoon and summer as compared to post-monsoon and winter season. In second part, 20 cows (2nd-4th parity) expected to calve after 5 weeks were randomly allocated either groups: control (CG; no treatment) or levamisole (LG; given Levamisol @ 2.5mg/kg bodyweight s/c once weekly for 4 weeks. Blood, uterine health, fertility parameters and milk somatic cell counts (SCC) were estimated. LG showed lesser clinical endometritis (50% vs. 90%) and calf scours (20% vs. 62.5%); lesser (p<0.05) days to estrus (55.0±5.77 vs. 75.10±10.32) and 1st AI (63.40±7.31 vs. 86.0±12.59), lower pH of estrual CVM (7.50±0.07 vs. 7.77±0.13), higher 150 day (100% vs. 50%) in-calf rate, lesser AIs per conception, shorter CCI and lower SCC (x105 cells/ml) at 14 DIM and 1st postpartum estrus. For third part of study, 56 cows at 30 DIM were examined. Eight cows with vaginal mucus score ‘0’ served as HC (healthy control, no treatment) while 48 cows with VMS≥1 were randomly allocated one of the groups (n = 8 each) and given respective treatments: UTC (untreated control), OG (Oyster Glycogen @ 500mg in 50ml NS I/U, LPS (E. coli LPS @ 100μg in 20-30 ml PBS I/U), PG (Synthetic PGF2α @ 500μg I/M), LUG (0.5% Lugol’s iodine @ 30 ml I/U for consecutive 3 days) and PE (Proteolytic enzyme mixture having Trypsin, Chymotrypsin and Papain in 20ml DW I/U). Blood & milk sample (at 30 DIM, 37 DIM & De) and CVM (at De) were collected. Blood & fertility parameters; and milk SCC were estimated. VMS=0 cows (54.67±9.28) had lower (p<0.05) serum total sialic acid (TSA, mg/dl) than VMS=1 or 2. Serum haptoglobin decreased after OG and PE treatment. Decrease in milk SCC from 30 DIM to De was >50% in treated cows (LPS>OG>PG>LUG>PG) but lesser in controls (HC and UTC). Treated cows showed clear CVM (≥75% vs. ≤62.5%) with mean pH <7.75 and lower incidence of endometritis at 1st estrus (≤37.5% vs. 62.5%); better fertility i.e. days to estrus, days to 1st AI, service period, CR, 150 day in-calf rate and lesser mean CCI than control cows. For studying the impact of human-cow interactions, separate set of 32 postpartum cows were placed in either positive (POS) or negative (NEG) group based on the quality of handling they were exposed to. Samples of blood & milk (at 30 DIM & De), vaginal mucus (at 30 DIM) and CVM (at De) were collected. In POS cows, higher (p<0.05) serum total immunoglobulin (g/dl) at 30 DIM (1.93±0.07 vs. 1.68±0.01) and at De (1.86±0.04 vs. 1.59±0.09); and total protein (g/dl) at De (10.12±0.19 vs. 8.88±0.23) were observed. Decrease (p<0.05) in TSA level from 30 DIM to De in POS (139.25±7.94 vs. 85.62±12.71 mg/dl) was recorded. Lower (p<0.05) endometritis (37.5% vs. 87.5%) at 1st estrus, lesser days to 1st AI (58.63±4.41 vs. 84.37±11.19), lower pH of estrual CVM (7.44±0.06 vs. 7.81±0.09), higher OCR (57.14% vs. 30.43%), higher 150 day (100% vs. 62.5%) in-calf rate, lesser AIs per conception, shorter CCI, lower SCC at 14 DIM and at estrus were recorded in POS vs. NEG cows. Immunomodulation (both preventive and therapeutic) and positive interactions in peripartum dairy cows are effective and economical approaches for improving the overall dairy performance and should be incorporated in routine farm practices.
Description
Unconventional strategies for enhancing peri- and post- parturient health and reproductive performance in dairy cows
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