title: Effect of oral calcium administration on the cure and reproductive performance of Holstein cows diagnosed with puerperal metritis.
abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of oral calcium administration on clinical cure, survival, subsequent presentation of peripartal health disorders, and reproductive performance of Holstein cows diagnosed with puerperal metritis (PM) under certified organic management. A second objective was to evaluate the metabolic status at calving and at the time of PM diagnosis (d 0) in affected and matched healthy cows. Cows diagnosed with PM (n = 200) were assigned randomly to receive 1 of 2 treatments: (1) control received 3.75 mL of Optimum UterFlush [Van Beek Natural Science, Orange City, IA, containing yucca extract, cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and a proprietary blend of carvacrol (4-isopropyl-2-methylphenol, at 0.47 g/mL)] diluted in 117 mL of distilled water by intrauterine infusion, administered every other day for a total of 3 treatments (n = 100); (2) calcium-supplemented (CA) received the same intrauterine treatment plus 6 oral capsules providing calcium ('O' Cal-D Cap, Bio-Vet Inc., Barneveld, WI; 7.5-9.0 g of Ca/capsule) once per day, for 3 consecutive days after diagnosis of PM. All cows received hypertonic saline solution (500 mL of 7.2% solution i.v. once), dextrose (500 mL of 50% solution i.v. once), and oral aspirin (5 boluses/d for 3 d). Outcome variables included fever, presence of fetid vaginal discharge, and uterine score at d 6 and 14 after diagnosis, survival at 30 and 100 d in milk, reproductive performance, and incidence of other health disorders after PM. A group of 200 control healthy cows (CH) was matched with PM cows at d 0, and calcium and fatty acid serum concentrations were determined at calving and at the day of diagnosis of PM (d 0). Calcium status was also assessed in PM cows at d 1, 2, 3, and 6 after diagnosis. Treatment effects were tested by logistic regression, repeated measures analysis, and ANOVA. Average calcium serum concentrations at d 0 were lower in PM cows (1.57 mmol/L) compared with CH cows (2.10 mmol/L). In PM cows, calcium concentrations at d 1, 2, 3, and 6 after diagnosis were significantly higher in the CA group. Fatty acid serum concentrations at calving and at d 0 were higher in PM cows compared with CH cows (0.48 vs. 0.37 mmol/L and 0.49 vs. 0.35 mmol/L, for calving and d 0). No effect was observed for calcium administration on health and survival outcomes. However, the proportion of cows inseminated by 150 d in milk was greater for CA compared with control cows (66 vs. 55%). In conclusion, supplementing oral calcium at the time of diagnosing PM had no effect on health. High fatty acid concentrations at calving were significant risk factors for occurrence of PM. Furthermore, cows affected with PM had lower calcium and higher fatty acid concentrations than CH cows at d 0.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University System, Amarillo 79106; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University System, College Station 77843. Electronic address: pablo.pinedo@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinedo
authors.affiliation: Aurora Organic Farms, Platteville, CO 80651.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.affiliation: Aurora Organic Farms, Platteville, CO 80651.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.affiliation: Aurora Organic Farms, Platteville, CO 80651.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julianne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naves
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: Gustavo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Schuenemann
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Risco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: calcium; fatty acid; puerperal metritis