title: A weekly postpartum PGF2αprotocol enhances uterine health in dairy cows.
abstract: Postpartum uterine health in dairy cows is crucial for the maintenance of good reproductive performance. In order to improve uterine health and reduce puerperal intrauterine infection, 608 Holstein cows received a weekly PGF2αprotocol (3 i.m. injections of PGF2αat 7, 14 and 21 d postpartum). For comparison, 593 cows in the control group received injections of sterile saline at the same time. Uterine score at 14 d postpartum, the prevalence of endometritis at 21-27 d postpartum, and subsequent reproduction performance was evaluated. Cows in the treated group exhibited higher tonicity (P<0.05) of the uterus, with less prevalence of endometritis (10.4%, 63/608 vs. 34.6%, 205/593; P<0.001), and required shorter time to the first AI postpartum (67.5±3.4 d vs. 84.4±3.7 d, P<0.05) and to pregnancy (114.5±5.4 d vs. 131.4±5.8 d, P<0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that uterine health in Holstein cows can be promoted while puerperal infection can be suppressed by this weekly postpartum PGF2αprotocol.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Guang-Min
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan; The Research Center for Animal Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zengshenming@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shen-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004716:Endometritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015237:Dinoprost
keywords: Endometritis; Holstein cow; PGF(2α); Reproduction performance; Uterine health