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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

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 40, pages 287–297 (1999)Cite this article

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.

Sammanfattning

I postpartalperioden undersöktes bakteriologiska och histologiska förandringar, normalisering av äggstocksfunktioner, samt granulocyternas (PMN) antal och funktion hos 18 kor av svensk röd och vit boskap. Korna mjölkades antingen 2 gånger dagligen (n = 9) eller 3 gånger dagligen (n = 9). För att studera bakteriologi och histologi i livmoder togs endometriebiopsier varje vecka under 8 veckor, med start inom en vecka efter kalvningen. Mjölkprover samlades 2 gånger i veckan och analyserades med avseende på progesteroninnehåll tilis korna uppvisade normal äggstockscyklicitet. Samtidigt med biopsierna togs blodprov för studier av granulocytfunktion (totalantal och fagocytoskapacitet). Korna var fria från bakterier i livmodern senast 6 veckor efter kalning och det fanns ingen skillnad i bakterieeliminationen eller bakteriearter melian de 2 mjölkningsfrekvens-gruppena. Vidare kunde ingen skillnad i livmoderhistologi påvisas. I både grupperna hade 8 djur en normal eller mycket obetydlig leukocytinfiltration vid försökets slut. Granulocyternas funktion och antal var lika i de båda grupperna. Återupptagandet av äggstockarnas funktion (höga progesteronvärden) syntes 45.6 ± 9.3 (medelvärde ± SD) dagar efter kalvingen i gruppen som mjölkades 2 gånger dagligen. Motsvarande siffror för gruppen som mjölkades 3 gånger dagligen var 36.6 ± 9.0 dagar. Derma skillnad tenderar art vara signifikant (p = 0.05). Slutsatsen från försöket är att en ökad mjölkningsfrekvens från 2 tili 3 gånger dagligen inte påverkar livmoderns eller äggstockarnas funktioner i en negativ riktning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Reproductive Biology, and Swedish National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden

    K. Kask & U. Magnusson

  2. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Landscape Planning and Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Swedish National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden

    J. Bertilsson

  3. Swedish Dairy Association, Eskilstuna and Swedish National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden

    H. Gustafsson

  4. Department of Bacteriology, Swedish National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden

    A. Gunnarsson

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Estonian Agricultural University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kreutzwaldi 62, 510 14, Tartu, Estonia, USA

    H. Kindahl

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  1. K. Kask
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  2. H. Gustafsson
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  3. U. Magnusson
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  4. J. Bertilsson
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  5. A. Gunnarsson
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  6. H. Kindahl
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Correspondence to K. Kask.

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Kask, K., Gustafsson, H., Magnusson, U. et al. Uterine Bacteriology, Histology, Resumption of Ovarian Activity and Granulocyte Function of the Postpartum Cow in Different Milking Frequencies. Acta Vet Scand 40, 287–297 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547008

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147