Factors related to uterine score and its influence on pregnancy per artificial insemination in crossbred dairy cows

• Published in: Livestock science 2020-11, Vol.241, p.104231, Article 104231
• Main Authors: de Rezende, Estevão Vieira, Campos, Carla Cristian, de Moraes, Giovanna Faria, dos Santos, Ricarda Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gir; Holstein; Postpartum. Reproductive efficiency; Uterine involution
• ISSN: 1871-1413; 1878-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104231

•Occurrence of uterine disease was related to uterine score at insemination.•Cows with higher parity had bigger and more abdominal located uteri.•Cows with BCS > 2.5 had more frequently small and pelvic uteri.•Cows with smaller and pelvic uteri tended to have better pregnancy rate. This study evaluated the relationships of postpartum uterine disease, parity and body condition score (BCS) to uterine score and their influence on pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) at the first postpartum service of crossbred dairy cows. A total of 588 Holstein × Gir dairy cows from 20 farms were monitored during the first 35 days postpartum to diagnose retained placenta, metritis and clinical endometritis. Cows were subjected to timed AI after the end of the voluntary waiting period. Uterine scores were evaluated at the time of the timed AI, between 35 and 65 days postpartum, and cows were grouped according to uterine size and position: small uterus in the pelvic cavity (SPS1), medium uterus in the transition between the pelvic and abdominal cavities (SPS2) and large uterus within the abdominal cavity (SPS3). The uterine score was related to occurrence of postpartum uterine disease, number of cases, parity, and BCS (P