UTERINE INVOLUTION, OVARIAN ACTIVITY AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN CATTLE
UTERINE INVOLUTION, OVARIAN ACTIVITY AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN CATTLE
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Date
1982-11
Authors
LAWRENCE, OCHENEMINE EDUVIE
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Abstract
The effects of suckling, feeding of concentrate
supplement, season of calving, parity or age of dam on
duration of uterine involution and ovarian activity in
the postpartum cow were studied. The effect of suckling on
the gross and histological changes in the reproductive
organs during the postpartum period and a bacteriological
survey of the postpartum uteri of suckled and nonsuckled cows
were also undertaken.
Suckling and the season of calving affected the interval
from calving to first ovulation significantly (P(.IO).
Nonsuckled cows and cows that calved during the dry season
ovulated earlier than suckled cows and cows that calved during
the rainy season, respectively. Cows that received concentrate
supplement had shorter but non-significant postpartum
intervals to first follicle, and first ovulation as well
as shorter intervals from first follicle to ovulation-
Pluriparous cows tended to ovulate earlier than primiparous
cows.
Height of ovary associated with the nongravid uterine
horn was statistically different (P<.05) for suckled
and nonsuckled cows. Breadth of ovary on the side of the
nongravid horn and height of ovary associated with the
previously gravid horn and nongravid horn were different
(P(.05) between postpartum days . Ovary
associated with the previously gravid horn was
generally heavier than the contralateral ovary.
Nonsuckled cows had more follicles than suckled cows.
Cyclic corpora lutea (CL) were detected in four of
12 nonsuckled cows but none of the suckled cows had CL
during the first 30 days after calving. The rate of
regression of CL of pregnancy during the postpartum
period was similar for suckled and nonsuckled cows.
Primary and atretic follicles were more prevalent than
growing and graafian follicles in the ovaries of both
suckled and nonsuckled cows.
There were significant differences in the length,
diameter and weight of the uterine horns, uterine body
and cervix between postpartum days two, 10, 21 and 30.
The diameters of the caruncles near the uterine bifurcation
were significantly different between day two
and days 10, 21 and 30 postpartum. Uterine horn wall
thickness was similar for cows examined at days two
and 10, and for those at days 21 and 30 but different
between these two periods. Sloughing of caruncular
tissue and initiation of caruncular reepithelialization
occurred at about day 10 after parturition. Caruncular
reepithelialization which occurred from the edges of
the caruncles and also from glandular epithelium, was
completed by day 21 postpartum. Epithelium was present
in sections of the intercaruncular uterine tissue,
the cervix, uterine body and oviducts irrespective of
days postpartum. Lymphocytes and plasma cells were
commonly found in the lamina propria of the uterine
sections from cows in all groups while aggregates of
different leucocytes (mainly lymphocytes) were present
in some sections. Trophoblastic cells were abserved
in a few sections obtained from cows on day two while
macrophages and eosinophils were found in some sections
obtained from cows on days two and 10.
Postpartum uterine contamination was higher between
days 10 and 21 than any other postpartum period, with
Staphylococcus aureus being the commonest organism
isolated. The partem of uterine contamination during
the first month after calving was that of contamination
clearing and recontamination as no organism was cons -
stently isolated from any animal during this period.
Seven out of 24 cows sampled at slaughter and nine of
52 in vivo samplings were positive for bacteria. Suckling
had no influence on the rate of uterine contamination
which did not interfere with uterine involution.
It is concluded that suckling, level of feeding,
season of calving and parity or age of daw may delavtne
onset of ovarian activity during the postpartum period
and thus contribute to a prolonged calving interval and
fewer calves per life in the Zebu cows. Delayed uterine
involution does not appear to be a problem in Zebu cows.
Description
A
Dissertation
Submitted to the postgraduate school
Ahmadu Bello University
In partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine
Section of Theriogenology
NOVEMBER, 1982
Keywords
UTERINE,, INVOLUTION,,, OVARIAN ACTIVITY,, BACTERIOLOGICAL,, POSTPARTUM,, PERIOD,, INDIGENOUS,, NIGERIAN CATTLE