Prevalence of postpartum subclinical endometritis in three dairy farms of Puerto Rico

Abstract

Endometritis is one of the causes associated with low reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle. This study evaluated the prevalence of subclinical endometritis (SE) in three dairy herds in Puerto Rico during both hot and cool seasons. In cows at 45±7 days post-partum, SE, defined as the presence of ≥5% of polymorphonuclear cells in samples of endometrial tissue, was determined by cytology. The overall prevalence of SE (n=101 cows) was 8.9% and no significant effects were found of breed (P=0.73), season (P=0.34), number of lactations (P=0.60), nor location (P=0.56). For Holsteins, Brown Swiss, Jersey and crossbred cows the prevalence of SE was 10.4, 18.7, 0, and 6.3%, respectively. Primiparous cows showed a value of 7.1% SE and multiparous, 10.2%. During the hot season the prevalence of SE was 6.1% versus 11.5% for the cool season. At the dairies located in Moca, Lajas and Camuy the condition was detected in 5.5%, 6.6% and 12.0% of the cows, respectively. Compared to studies conducted in other countries, the present results indicate that SE is relatively well under control in the local dairy herds studied.