Addition of clinoptilolite in the diet reduces uterine PMN leukocytes and open days in multiparous lactating dairy cows managed in a mountain tropical pasture-based system.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effect of adding clinoptilolite in the diet on uterine health and reproductive performance in multiparous lactating dairy cows managed in a tropical pasture-based system above 2500m of altitude. Seventy-seven multiparous Holstein crossbred cows from two farms were allocated randomly into two groups: clinoptilolite supplemented cows (CLG, n = 42) and non-supplemented cows as control (CG, n = 35). Cows from CLG were supplemented with clinoptilolite from 30days (50g/cow/day) before to 60days after calving (200g/cow/day). In CLG cows, percentages of uterine PMN leukocytes (P < 0.0001) and proportion of subclinical endometritis (P = 0.0187) were lower than in CG. The interval calving to first corpus luteum was shorter (P = 0.0759) in CLG than CG, and calving to first service interval was similar between treatments. Cows from CLG became pregnant 35days earlier than CG cows (P = 0.0224). On farm A, calving to conception interval was 18.1days longer in CLG than in CG (P = 0.3750); in farm B, this interval was 86.2days shorter in CLG than in CG (P = 0.0002). In conclusion, daily addition of clinoptilolite in the diet decreased the percentage of uterine PMN leukocytes, the proportion of cows with subclinical endometritis, and shortened the calving-conception interval in multiparous lactating dairy cows.