IMPACT OF INTRAVAGINAL PROBIOTICS INOCULATION ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF HOLSTEIN DAIRY CATTLE DURING TRANSITION PERIOD

Abstract

In this study we tested the hypothesis that intravaginal infusions of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) around calving would improve uterine involution and reproductive performance of dairy cows. The probiotic culture used in this study was a mixture of 2 LAB strains isolated previously from the vaginal tract of healthy pregnant heifers. Forty pregnant 2nd lactation dairy cows 2 wk before the expected day of calving were assigned to one of 2 groups, first group was the control group (C) receiving 1 mL of media only, and the 2nd group was the treated group (T) receiving 1 mL of media enriched with probiotic bacteria at 1010 to 1012 cfu / treatment. Intravaginal infusions were performed once during wk −2, −1, +1, +2, +3, and +4 relative to parturition with probiotic bacteria. All cows were observed for reproductive performance and reproductive diseases until next conception using ultrasonography. The incidence of uterine infections in the multiparous cows were measured. Days open, conception rate at 1st, 2nd and 3rd insemination and repeat breeders (%) were calculated. Incidence of purulent and foul-smelling discharges on +1, +2, +3 and +4 wk relative to parturition and numbers of cows in the clean-up program were measured, cervix diameters (C.D) and uterine horn diameters (U.H.D) were measured at days (22-29) and days (38-45) postpartum. Ovarian structures and endometritis were determined. Results revealed that uterine and cervical involution of postpartum dairy cows were earlier in cows treated with LAB. Cows showed purulent and fowl smelling discharges are fewer in number in treated group than control, also data showed that percentage of cows in the cleanup program was higher in the control group (40%) than in the treated group (20%). The averaged insemination number per conception was lesser in the treated group (2.55) than control (4). The conception rate at 1st insemination and 3rd insemination was higher in the treated group (35%, 20%) than in control one (25%, 10%), and the %of repeated breeder cows was lower in the treated group (30%) than control (40%), finally days open in the treated group (116.4) was much lower than in the control (154.72). Therefore it can be conclude that, intravaginal treatment of transition dairy cows with a mixture of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could improve uterine involution, lower the incidence rates of uterine infections, and improve the reproductive performance.