Risk Factors for Postpartum Uterine Infections in Dairy Herds

The association between some risk factors and the presentation of post-partum uterine infections in dairy cattle has been established. However, this association is not comprehensive and the role of other factors has not been widely studied. Here the importance of age, parity, calving season, dystocia and retained foetal membranes (RFMs) was established as some of the potential risk factors for uterine infections. Cases studied occurred at two English dairy farms: Farm A (n= 463) and Farm B (n=361) that had calved between January and December 2009. It was found that Farm B reported a higher prevalence of uterine infections based on age, parity and calving season (24% vs. 16%). Farm A reported a higher prevalence of uterine infections based on retained foetal membranes (8.9% vs. 5%) and dystocia (11.9% vs. 6.9%). Both farms reported significant effect on age (χ 2 = 19.35, df 2, p<0.001 and χ 2 = 19.82, df 2, p<0.001), calving season (χ 2 = 9.61, df 3, p<0.02 and χ 2 = 80.06, df 3, p<0.001) and dystocia (χ 2 = 12.98, df 1, p<0.001 and χ 2 = 7.56, df 1, p<0.01) on the presentation of uterine infection while parity and RFMs were not significant. The findings of this study may be useful for helping to set up protocols in dairy herd health management that prompt livestock owners, breeders and veterinarians to take quick action to avoid the consequences caused by postpartum uterine infections. In addition, it could help in the formulation of correct post-calving health monitoring strategies within a dairy herd.