Prevalence and risk factors of clinical endometritis diagnosed by vaginoscopy in dairy herds

Risk factors associated with reproductive performance in Japanese dairy cows: Vaginal discharge with flecks of pus or calving abnormality extend time to pregnancy

“…Consistent with the findings of our previous study [18], the cows with a VDS of one included in the present study showed a reduced reproductive performance. Although the occurrence of clinical endometritis was shown to be associated positively with the retention of fetal membranes and early postpartum diseases within 30 days of parturition in our previous study [17], the findings of this study indicate that calving abnormality and VDS of one were associated with extending the number of days open postpartum to establish a pregnancy. In Japan, especially in the experimental area, the average calving to conception interval in dairy cows is approximately 160 days [14] and the median calving to conception interval in dairy cows is approximately 177 days [8].…”

“…In the present study, we have shown the negative effect of calving abnormality and VDS of one on the postpartum time to establish a pregnancy. Although calving abnormality had no significant association with the risk of clinical endometritis, as shown in one of our previous studies [17], the present study indicated that calving abnormality negatively affected reproductive performance. These findings suggest that cows that experienced calving abnormality have potential risk factors, such as subclinical endometritis, due to the abnormal intrauterine environment [11, 21, 22].…”

“…Previously, we focused on diagnostic methods for clinical postpartum endometritis using a grading system based on vaginal discharge score (VDS), and found that untreated cows having a VDS of one showed a negative reproductive progression [18]. In addition, we reported that the retention of fetal membranes, as well as other early postpartum conditions within 30 days of parturition, was related to the occurrence of clinical endometritis [17]. However, poor reproductive performance can be caused by conditions other than clinical endometritis, and many other related factors can contribute to postpartum diseases and conditions [10, 11, 22].…”

“…In the present study, VDS test was performed at 21–60 days after parturition. Moreover, we diagnosed cows with a VDS of one or above for clinical endometritis under field conditions [17, 18]. As mentioned above, uterine conditions during early postpartum period change rapidly.…”