Abstract
Three treatment regimes for postparturient toxic endometritis were compared at a large dairy farm
in Sachsen-Anhalt. This comparison consisted of a systemic treatment with Ceftiofur (trial group),
a combination of the systemic application of Ampicillin with the intrauterine application of Ampicillin
and Cloxacillin (control group A), and a combination of the systemic application of Ceftiofur with
the intrauterine application of Ampicillin and Cloxacillin (control group B). All calved cows during
the trial period underwent a postpartum (pp) control on the fourth to sixth day. Discharge was
vaginoscopically examined with regard to amount and odor. Additionally the body temperature
was taken and the general attitude and the body condition were examined and scored. The
criteria for enrollment were increased, fetid vaginal discharge or placental retention. The study
animals were evenly distributed in the three study groups. Cows in the trial group received 600
mg Ceftiofur once daily on three consecutive days. The animals in control group A received a
systemic application of 6000 mg Ampicillin and an intrauterine application of 2500 mg Ampicillin
and 2500 mg Cloxacillin in the form of uterine pills. The intrauterine treatment of the animals in
control group B was identical to the treatment of control group A, but the cows were treaded
systemically with 600 mg Ceftiofur. For six days the body temperature of all study animals was
measured. On the third day after beginning the treatment an additional vaginoscopic examination
was undertaken. The final evaluation occurred on the sixth day after treatment. Animals with a
body temperature of more than 39.5C were considered as a failure and treated systemically with
3000 mg Oxytetrazyklin for three additional days. On 18 to 20 pp day (PK2) and 32 to 34 pp day
(PK3) additional vaginal and rectal examinations occurred. Regardless of the findings all animals
received a Prostaglandin F2alpha-injection on these days. After a voluntary waiting period of 55
days all trial animals were inseminated on observed estrus. All animals that had not expressed
estrus by day 80 pp underwent treatment for infertility. The success of the treatment was
evaluated according to cure rate and the achieved reproductive performance measures such as
heat detection rate, interval between calving and first insemination, calving interval, first service to
conception rate, and overall conception rate. Based on the body temperature on day 6 after
beginning treatment all treatment achieved a comparable, clinical success (82,7 to 86,9 %).
Differences were not significant (p>0.05). In all study groups the number of animals with a
disturbed general attitude was significantly higher on the first day than on day 6 (p<0.05). In
contrast there was no significant difference in the number of cows with an increased or fetid
vaginal discharge between the first and the sixth day (p>0.05). Differences among the study
groups were also not significant (p>0.05). Differences in reproductive performance measured
were intervals between calving and first insemination, calving intervals, and first service to
conception rates among the study groups were also not significant. The days to first service in
this study were 8522 to 8826 days and the calving intervals were between 10030 and 10530
days. Differences among the study groups were not significant (p>0.05). The conception rates
were between 29.7% (control group B) and 48,6% (control group A). With regard to the
conception rate, the number of pregnant animals and the culling rate, control group B had
significantly worse results than the trial group and control group A (p>0.05). From animals with
fever significantly more animals were culled than animals without fever (p>0.05). The economic
analysis of the treatment regimes proved the lowest costs per pregnancy for the trial group. The
financial advantage resulted from the reduction of milk withheld and the cost for medication and
veterinarian fees. The costs for replacement had the largest economic impact and caused be
highest share of costs in all study groups. |
