Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 1999 Dec 1;40(4):287–297. doi: 10.1186/BF03547008

Uterine Bacteriology, Histology, Resumption of Ovarian Activity and Granulocyte Function of the Postpartum Cow in Different Milking Frequencies

Bakteriologiska och histologiska förändringar i livmodern, samt återupptagandet av äggstocksaktivitet i postpartalperioden hos mjölkkor med olika mjölkningsfrekvenser

K Kask 1,✉, H Gustafsson 2, U Magnusson 1, J Bertilsson 3, A Gunnarsson 4, H Kindahl 5
PMCID: PMC8043138  PMID: 10918898

Abstract

The postpartum uterine bacteriology, histology, resumption of ovarian activity and polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) number and function in 18 Swedish dairy cows were studied. Cows were milked either 2× (n = 9) or 3× per day (n = 9). Endometrial biopsy samples for bacteriological and histological investigations were collected during 8 weeks postpartum, starting within one week after calving. Milk samples for progesterone determination were collected twice a week until the cows had shown normal reproductive cyclicity. Blood samples for granulocyte function (phagocytic capacity and total number) were collected from each animal on the same days as when the biopsies were obtained. All animals in both groups were free from bacteria at the latest after 6 weeks port portum and there was no difference regarding bacterial elimination and bacterial species between milking groups. No difference regarding uterine histology between milking groups was seen. In both groups, 8 cows had normal to slight infiltration of leukocytes in the endometrium at the end of sample collection. No changes in granulocyte function could be seen in the 2 milking groups. Resumption of ovarian activity was detected on day 45.6 ± 9.3 (mean ± SD) postpartum in the 2× milking group and 36.6 ± 9.0 (mean ± SD) post-partum in the 3× milking group (p = 0.05). Based on our findings, an increased milking frequency from 2 to 3 times a day did not influence the uterine function postpartum.

Keywords: Key words: post-partum period, uterine histology, polymorphonuclear granulocytes, phagocytic capacity

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.5 MB).

References

  1. Allen DB, DePeters EJ, Laben RC. Three times a day milking: effects on milk production, reproductive efficiency and udder health. J. Dairy Sci. 1986;69:1441–1446. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(86)80553-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Amose HE, Kiser T, Lowenstein M. Influence of milking frequency on productive and reproductive efficiencies of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 1985;68:732–739. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(85)80880-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bekana M: Clinical, ultrasonographic, bacteriological and hormonal studies in post-partum cows with particular emphasis on retained fetal membranes. Uppsala, Sweden. 1996. PhD Thesis.
  4. Bekana M, Jonsson P, Ekman T, Kindahl H. Intrauterine bacterial findings in post-partum cows with retained foetal membranes. J. Vet. Med. A. 1994;41:663–670. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1994.tb00134.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bekana M, Jonsson P, Kindahl H. Intrauterine bacterial findings and hormonal profiles in post-partum cows with normal puerperium. Acta vet. scand. 1996;37:251–263. doi: 10.1186/BF03548092. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bertilsson J, Berglund B, Ratnayake G, Svennersten-Sjaunja K, Wiktorsson H. Optimising lactation cycles for the high-yielding dairy cow. A European perspective. Livestock Production Sciences. 1997;50:5–13. doi: 10.1016/S0301-6226(97)00068-7. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  7. Butler WR, Smith RD. Interrelationships between energy balance and postpartum reproductive function in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 1989;72:767–783. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(89)79169-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. De Bois CHW: Endometritis en vruchtbaarheid bij het rund. (Endometritis and fertility in the cow). Utrecht, The Netherlands. 1961. PhD Thesis.
  9. Elliott L, McMahon KJ, Gier HT, Marion GB. Uterus of the cow after parturition: bacterial content. Am. J. Vet. Res. 1968;29:77–81. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Erb HN, Smith RD, Oltenacu PA. Path model of reproductive disorders and performance, milk fever, mastitis, milk yield, and culling in holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 1985;68:3337–3349. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(85)81244-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Fergusson DJ: Nutrition and reproduction in dairy cows. Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice, 1991, 7, No. 2: 483–507. [DOI] [PubMed]
  12. Fredriksson G, Kindahl H, Sandstedt K, Edqvist L-E. Intrauterine bacterial findings and release of PGF2α in the post-partum dairy cow. Zbl. Vet. Med. A. 1985;32:368–380. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1985.tb01953.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gisi DD, DePeters EJ, Pelissier CL: Three times daily milking of cows in California dairy herds. J. Dairy Sci., 1986,69:863–868.
  14. Griffin JFT, Hartigan PJ, Nunn WR: Non-specific uterine infections and bovine fertility. 1. Infection patterns and endometritis during the first seven weeks post-partum. Theriogenology, 1974a, 1, 91–106. [DOI] [PubMed]
  15. Griffin JFT, Murphy JA, Nunn WR, Hartigan PJ: Repetitive in vivo sampling of the bovine uterus under field conditions. Br. Vet. J., 1974b, 130, 259–264. [DOI] [PubMed]
  16. Gröhn YT, Erb HN, McCulloch CE. Epidemiology of reproductive disorders in dairy cattle: associations among host characteristics, disease and production. Prev. Vet. Med. 1990;8:25–39. doi: 10.1016/0167-5877(90)90020-I. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gröhn YT, Hertl JA, Harmon JL: Effect of early lactation milk yield on reproductive disorders in dairy cows. Am. J. vet. Res., 1994, 55, No. 11: 1521–1527. [PubMed]
  18. Gustafsson AH: Acetone and urea concentration in milk as indicators of the nutritional status and the composition of the diet of dairy cows. Uppsala, Sweden. 1993. PhD Thesis.
  19. Hartigan PJ, Murphy JA, Nunn WR, Griffin JFT. An investigation into the causes of reproductive failure in dairy cows. I. Gross and microscopic observations on the genitalia of slaughtered nonpregnant cows. Irish vet. J. 1972;26:225–228. [Google Scholar]
  20. Holt JG, KriegNR, Sneath PHA, Staley JT, Williams ST: Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Williams and Wilkins Co, Baltimore. 1994, 9th ed., 299 pp.
  21. Hussain AM. Bovine uterine defence mechanisms: a review. J. Vet. Med. B. 1989;36:641–651. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0450.1989.tb00657.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kask K, Kindahl H, Gustafsson H. Bacteriological and histological investigations of the postpartum bovine uterus in two Estonian dairy herds. Acta vet. scand. 1998;39:423–432. doi: 10.1186/BF03547768. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kindahl H, Edqvist L-E, Larsson K, Malmqvist Å: Influence of prostaglandins on ovarian function post-partum. In: Karg H, Schallenberger E (Eds.): Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, 1982, Vol. 20, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. The Hague/Boston/London: 173–196.
  24. Kindahl H, Odensvik K, Aiumlamai S, Fredriksson G. Utero-ovarian relationships during the bovine post-partum period. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 1992;28:363–369. doi: 10.1016/0378-4320(92)90122-T. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  25. Laitinen J: Oestrus confirmation, pregnancy diagnosis and postpartum ovarian follow-up of the Finnish dairy cows by milk progesterone assay. University of Kuopio, Finland. 1983. PhD Thesis. 110 pp.
  26. Lamming GE: Reproduction during lactation. In: Crighton DB, Foxcroft GR, Hayness NB, Lamming GE (Ed.). Control of Ovulation 1978, 335– 353.
  27. Lamming GE, Peters AR, Riley GM, Fisher MW: Endocrine regulation of postpartum function. In: Karg H, Schallenberger E (Eds.): Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, 1982, Vol. 20. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. The Hague/Boston/London: 148–173.
  28. Lamming GE, Wathes DC, Peters AR. Endocrine patterns of the post-partum cow. J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl. 1981;50:155–170. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lewis GS. Uterine health and disorders. J. Dairy Sci. 1997;80:984–994. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(97)76024-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Lindell J-O, Kindahl H, Jansson L, Edqvist L-E. Post-partum release of prostaglandin F2α and uterine involution in the cow. Theriogenology. 1982;17:237–245. doi: 10.1016/0093-691X(82)90085-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Lloyd S. Effects of pregnancy and lactation upon infection. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 1983;4:153–176. doi: 10.1016/0165-2427(83)90057-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Magnusson U, Hoist H. Assaying granulocyte phagocytosis by chemiluminescence: effect of storage, time and temperature of blood samples. J. Vet. Med. B. 1998;45:217–222. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0450.1998.tb00786.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Marstorp P, Anfält T, Andersson L: Determination of oxidized ketone bodies in milk by flow injection analysis. Anal. Chim. Acta, 1983,149, 281–289.
  34. Messier S, Higgins R, Couture Y, Morin M. Comparison of swabbing and biopsy for studying the flora of the bovine uterus. Can. Vet. J. 1984;25:283–288. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Ratnayake DRTG: Management and reproduction in dairy cows. Effects of increased milking frequency and extended calving interval. Uppsala, Sweden. 1996. Licentiate Thesis. 28 pp.
  36. Rasbech NO: Den normale involutio uteri hos koen. (Normal uterine involution in the cow). Nord. VetMed., 1950,2, 655–687.
  37. Ratnayake DRTG, Berglund B, Bertilsson J, Forsberg M, Gustafsson H. Fertility in dairy cows managed for calving intervals of 12,15 or 18 months. Acta vet. scand. 1998;39:215–228. doi: 10.1186/BF03547794. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Romaniukowa K: Phagocytosis in the uterus. Proc: 10th Int. Cong. Anim. Reprod. Artif. Insem., 1984, 4-XI, 33–38.
  39. Saloniemi H, Gröhn YT, Syväjärvi J. An epidemiological and genetic study on registered diseases in Finnish Ayrshire cattle. II. Reproductive disorders. Acta vet. scand. 1986;27:196–208. doi: 10.1186/BF03548164. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. SAS Institute Inc.: SAS/STAST®, Guide for personal computers, Version 6 edn. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, 1994.
  41. Studer E, Morrow DA. Post-partum evaluation of bovine reproductive potential: comparison of findings from genital tract examinations per rectum, uterine culture, and endometrial biopsy. J. Am. Vet. Med. Ass. 1978;172:489–494. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Thatcher WW, Guilbault LA, Collier RJ, Lewis GS, Drost M, Knickerbocker J, Foster DB, Wilcox CJ: The impact of antepartum physiology on postpartum performance in cows. In: Karg H, Schallenberger E (Eds.): Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, 1982, Vol. 20, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. The Hague/Boston/London: 3–24.
  43. Thompson FN, Page RD, Cook CB, Caudle AB. Prostaglandin F2α metabolite levels in normal and uterine-infected post-partum cows. Vet. Res. Comm. 1987;11:503–507. doi: 10.1007/BF00396367. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Tian-Quan C, Weston PG, Lund LA, Brodie B, McKenna DJ, Wagner WC. Association between neutrophil function and periparturient disorders in cows. Am. J. Vet. Res. 1994;55:934–943. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Vandeplassche M, Bouters R: Phagocytosis in the blood and uterine exudate of mares, cows and sows. Proc. 3rd Intern. Symp. Vet. Lab. Diagnostic Ames, 1983, I, 83–89.
  46. Zerbe H: Functional and phenotypic investigations with bovine neutrophilic granulocytes from blood and uterus. Hannover, Tierärztliche Hochschule Germany. 1994, 62–64.

Articles from Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES