A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 5, 1993
Treatment Considerations
MICHAEL L. O’CONNOR
PSU Dairy Extension
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Uterine infection is a
major problem on some dairy
farms.
Cows with uterine infections
generally have lower conception
rates and more days open. There
has been considerable debate
about the appropriate treatment
for uterine infection.
A multitude of antibiotics, dis
infectants and hormones have
been used to treat such infections.
Some of these products have been
shown to be ineffective, while
others cause irritation, retard uter
ine defense mechanisms, and may
damage the lining of the reproduc
tive system.
The major uterine defense
mechanism against bacterial
infection is phagocytosis by
leucocytes (white blood cells)
within the uterus. Ovarian hor
mones influence the ability of the
uterus to eliminate bacterial
infection.
During the period when estro
gen concentrations are elevated,
uterine defense mechanisms are
more effective, and thus the uterus
is more resistant to infection.
When a corpus luteum (CL) is pre
sent and progesterone dominates
the reproductive system, the uter
us is more susceptible to infection.
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The optimal therapy for uterine
infection would be a treatment
that does not inhibit natural uter
ine defense mechanisms or cause
adulteration of milk or meat, but
eliminates pathogenic bacteria
from the uterus.
Most antibiotics and disinfec
tants used for intrauterine therapy
fail to meet some of these criteria.
Prostaglandin (PG) is an effec
tive alternative to antibiotic treat
ment for most uterine infections.
LAWRENCE W. SPECHT
PSU Dairy Extension
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Several indexes designed
to evaluate the lifetime production
and profitability of a cow have
surfaced in the past year, includ
ing the following:
1. Genetic evaluation for herd
life may soon be available from
USDA-AIPL. Herd life would be
defined as “the cow’s total months
of production, with a limit of 10
months per lactation.” No addi
tional credit is given after a cow
reaches seven years of age. Herita
bility would be set at 8.5 percent
(versus 25 percent for milk yield).
USDA-AIPL says that the esti-
Offered For Bovine Uterine Infections
However, prostaglandin is a pre
scription drug, and treatment for
uterine infection is considered an
extra label use.
Justification for using PG is that
it causes degeneration of the CL
which lowers progesterone con
centrations. Furthermore, once the
CL degenerates, follicles continue
development, and estrogen con
centrations rise, uterine defense
mechanisms are more effective,
Determining Lifetime Profitability
mated value of longevity could be
included in total merit indexes
such as production-type indexes
or the USDA dollar value formula.
Further research is needed to
determine the value of herd life
when other correlated traits such
as udder height or somatic cell
score are included in the index.
2. Lifetime Profitability Rank
ing Dollars (LPRS) is “the amount
of profit over a cow’s lifetime that
you can expect from using a spe
cific bull versus a breed average
bull.” Profit is measured as net
income over a cow’s lifetime and
is based on herd life ratings which
predict how many days of produc
tive life a cow has in the herd after
and smoother muscle contractions
may expel uterine contaminants.
Will PG treatment be effective
for uterine infections which occur
in the early postpartum period
prior to formation of the first CL?
Although a few trials have
noted some benefits of PG treat
ment in non-cycling cattle during
the early postpartum period, the
results are not as convincing as
using PG for infected cows known
first calving. Combining herd life
estimates with production traits of
the daughters determines a sire’s
LPRS index. The top eight sires
from the AI unit using this index
ranged in LPRS from $169 to
$192. Sires with the highest pro
duction values and the best type
indexes on their progeny would
obviously rank highest in such a
system.
3. Canadian sires are ranked on
a lifetime profitability index
(LPI). The index includes fat and
protein production as well as final
classification, feet and leg, and
mammary system scores. The LPI
is calculated as:
LPI = 6CSF+6P) + 4(3FC + 4MS +
Tulpehocken YF Holds Anti-Theft Meeting
SHARTLESVILLE (Berks trooper from the Hamburg bar-
Co.) — The Young Farmers racks will discuss how farmers can
group of the Tulpehocken Area protect their equipment and lives-
School District will present a prog- tock fr° m thieves,
ram at 7 p.m. Monday, June 7, “Several farmers I work with
about protecting farm equipment have had their shops robbed,” Wil
and animals from theft. ,iams said - addin 8 that theives
The meeting is to be held at the and continue to steal from
Paul Zimmerman farm, located fa ™crs.
along Tulpehocken Road, west of mcedn B * s open to the publ-
Shartlesville. ic and is to-be held in the bam at
Zimmerman’s farm. The farm is
the first one on the left, when
traveling west on Tulpehocken
Road from Old Rt. 22.
Chris Williams, an agriculture
instructor at the high school and
advisor to the group said a state
to be cycling.
Based on the results of several
field studies, the therapeutic use of
PG consistently shows recovery
and fertility rates equal to
intrauterine antibacterial therapy.
Furthermore, there is no potential
milk residue problem.
However, when cattle are
severely ill with metritis, more
extensive veterinary therapy is
required.
2FL + CAP) ( F=fat, P=protein,
FC-final classification score,
MS=mammary system, FL=feet
and legs and CAP-capacity)
The key question is, “Are life
time indexes better indicators of a
cow’s productive efficiency and
profitability than other presently
used criteria such as total lifetime
production and/or production per
day of life?” Any individual or
organization can construct an
index of traits that they believe to
be important to dairy cattle
improvement. It is critical that the
values (weights) assigned to the
traits in an index are backed by
adequate research data.