EFFECT OF BLOOD UREA NITROGEN, MINERAL STATUS AND UTERINE pH ON FERTILITY IN DAIRY COWS
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Date
2008
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR
Abstract
An investigation was carried out with the objective of studying the effect
of BUN and uterine pH on fertility in dairy cows under farm and field conditions
and also for correlating the mineral status with fertility using 40 crossbred dairy
cows selected at random during oestrus, 20 each from those belonging to
University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy (Group 1) and those brought for
insemination at Artificial Insemination Centres at Mannuthy and Kokkalai (Group
11). All the cows in Group 1 were found to be maintained in a relatively high
nutritious diet computed as per the scientific feeding standards compared to
Group II animals.
Detailed elinico-gynaecological examination was carried out and blood
samples and uterine mucus were collected from all the selected cows during
oestrus for estimation of biochemical parameters and uterine pH respectively.
They were inseminated during the most appropriate period of oestrus and were
subjected to pregnancy diagnosis at 60 days post insemination. Conception rates
in both the groups were compared in relation to each parameter.
The mean duration of oestrus was slightly higher in Group 11 (30.00 ± 2.11
hours) compared to Group 1 (26.10 ± 1.74 hours). Intensity of oestrus was high,
medium and low in 40, 45 and 15 per cent of animals respectively in Group 1 and
50. 40 and 10 per cent in Group 11. Physical changes of reproductive tract viz.
degree of vulval oedema and hyperemia of vestibular mucous membrane were
more pronounced in animals of Group II compared to Group I, where as degree of
tonicity was high in Group 1 compared to Group II. Characteristics of cervical
mucus were also found to be affecting fertility. Better conception rate was
obtained in animals with clear and stringy cervical mucus exhibiting typical type
of fern pattern. Spinnbarkeit value did not vary much between conceived and non
conceived animals.
Uterine pH did not show a marked variation between groups, even though
a slightly higher value was recorded in Group 1. But, an inverse relationship could
be obtained between BUN level in serum and uterine pH during oestrus.
Correlation between uterine pH and BUN level was highly significant (P<0.01)
with a correlation eo-efficient of r = -0.896 and r = - 0.753 in groups 1 and 11
respectively. The mean blood urea nitrogen level in animals of Group 1 was
significantly higher (P<0.05) than that in Group 11. The BUN level also varied
significantly (P<0.05) between conceived and non-conceived animals of both
groups. A marginal increase in plasma glucose level could be noticed in
conceived animals compared to non-conceived animals of Group 1. The mean
serum total protein was significantly higher (P<0.01) in Group 1 compared to
Group 11. The serum level of minerals viz. calcium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc
and copper were also correlated with fertility. The mean level of serum calcium
and manganese varied significantly between groups 1 and II, but there was no
significant difference in serum phosphorus, zinc and copper between two groups.
Also, a slightly higher mean value was observed for serum calcium, phosphorus,
manganese and zinc in conceived animals compared to non-conceived. But serum
copper level did not vary between conceived and non-conceived animals.
In light of these findings, it can be concluded that the elevation in systemic
concentration of urea is likely to impair fertility in dairy cows as a consequence of
alterafions in uterine environment. The benefits of feeding excess dietary protein
and urea to maintain peak milk production should be compared with potential
negative effects on fertility. Hence, a good nutritional management is essential for
improved fertility in dairy cows.
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