DIAGNOSIS OF INFERTILITY IN COW
WHAT IS INFERTILITY ❓
⭐Infertility implies delayed or irregular reproduction or inability to conceive.
STEP 1
SECURE THE BREEDING HISTORY
🔸Date of parturition
🔸Complications and treatments
🔸Estrus and service dates should be available
🔸Herd healthy history
STEP 2
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
Abortions, retained fetal membranes, metritis, and cystic follicles.
🔺When abortions occur, the fetus and placenta should be refrigerated and submitted by the local veterinarian for laboratory examination.
🔺Paired serum samples collected from the dam at two or three week intervals should be frozen for serological study.
Breeding efficiency and calving interval.
🔺Breeding efficiency frequently is measured by the number of services per conception and non-return percentages.
🔺Non-return percentage is useful for early detection of breeding problems in the herd and may indicate the condition of the reproductive tract at the time of first services.
Frequency of postpartum estrus and nature of vulvar discharge.
🔺Short irregular estrus intervals frequently indicate cystic follicles, whereas both short and long irregular intervals may indicate poor estrus detection.
🔺A purulent vaginal discharge at any time indicates infection somewhere in the reproductive tract. The location of infection can be determined by veterinary examination of the reproductive tract.
Source and fertility of semen.
🔺In cows are bred by natural service, a fertility examination should be performed on each bull to determine the cause of impaired fertility.
🔺If artificial insemination (AI) is practiced, the semen should be collected and reviewed.
STEP 3
EVALUATION OF FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Feeding practices.
🐙If nonlactating cows are obese, or if lactating cows are emaciated 6-8 weeks after parturition, feeding practices need revision.
🐙Specific nutrient deficiencies may be determined by comparing feed intake with calculated requirements.
Estrus detection procedures.
🐙Breeding at the wrong time in relation to the onset of standing estrus probably is the most important cause of infertility.
Record system.
🐙Inspect individual life-time health record on each cow, with symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of all disease conditions.
⭐Also defined as diminished or absent capacity to produce viable offspring's
STEP 4
EXAMINATION OF HERD
🔹After the nature of the problem is identified from the history, feeding, and management practices, the members of the herd should be examined.
🔹Individual reproduction and health records should be provided to the veterinarian as each cow is palpated, and the results of each examination should be recorded.
🔹The examination results should be reviewed and evaluated to determine the nature of the problem and the specific cows involved.
STEP 5
COLLECTION OF SAMPLES FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATION
Uterine cultures.
✅ This procedure of collecting uterine swabs for culture and sensitivity is to determine the presence of pathogenic organisms in the uterus and their sensitivity to antibiotics.
Uterine biopsies.
✅This technique of collecting uterine biopsies for histopathological examination may confirm the presence of endometritis, an important cause of infertility.
Blood samples.
✅Tests performed on blood should include hemoglobin, protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and serological examination. This results of these test detect nutritional deficiencies or previous disease conditions in the herd.
✅The routine serological examinations include infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine virus diarrhea, and shipping fever.
✅Blood test for leptospirosis and brucellosis also may be indicated.
Feed samples.
✅ Silage, hay, and grain samples are analyzed for protein, total digestible nutrients, calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals.
STEP 6
EVALUATION OF INFORMATION AND DIAGNOSIS
🖊The history, feeding and management practices, data collected from the herd examination, and laboratory results should be evaluated to establish a diagnosis.
🖊An accurate diagnosis can be achieved only by critically evaluating each information.
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