Evaluation of peripartum hematochemical and metabolic profile to identify cattle at risk for metritis

Postpartum uterine diseases, mainly metritis, are very common in dairy cows which exhibit sickness, reduced milk yield and reproductive disorders. Puerperal metritis causes severe economical loss due to costs for treatment, milk withdrawal, reduced fertility and premature culling. Early detection of animals at risk for metritis remains a challenge for veterinarians. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between variation of haematochemical and metabolic parameters and postpartum metritis in order to evaluate if some parameters could be used as predicting factors. Fifty Italian Fresian cows of an intensive dairy farm were submitted to blood sampling on d -45 ~ (Dry period), d -15 ~ (Close-up period) and d +15 ~ (Postpartum period) for determination of haematochemical profile, serum protein profile, Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA) and β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Immediately after delivery 4 cows died thus were not considered in the study. All cows were daily examined and divided into 2 Groups according to puerperal discharge: presence of normal and odorless lochia (healthy=19); presence of fetid red-brown or white purulent discharge with or without signs of systemic illness (sick=27). All data were statistically analysed (P<0.01) using the General Linear Model (SAS®, Cary, NC, USA). No significant difference (P>0.05) between the 2 Groups in Dry period was detected. Considering the Close-up period, significant differences between the 2 Groups (healthy vs sick) as regards Hb (g/dl) (10.24±0.19vs11.17±0.13, P<0.01); HCTm (%) (28.40±0.57vs30.86±0.40, P<0.01); HCT (%) (28.60±0.54vs31.45±0.38, P<0.01); α1 globulins (%) (8.34±0.39vs6.06±0.28, P<0.01); WBC (103/μl) (6.99±0.51vs8.77±0.36, P<0.01) and NEFA (mEq/lt) (0.13±0.06vs0.35±0.04; P<0.01), were found. In the postpartum period significant differences were found as regards α2 globulins (%) (7.62±0.26vs8.52±0.18; P<0.01) and NEFA (mEq/lt) (0.39±0.08vs0.66±0.06; P<0.01). These observations underline the importance of nutrition in modulating the innate immune system, in transition period, which in turn could play a role on the emergence of uterine diseases. Our results indicate that monitoring some defined parameters in transitional cows could be useful to early detection of animals at risk for postpartum uterine diseases.