Incidence of uterine pathologies and fertility of Holstein cows treated with selenium and vitamin E before and after parturition

Abstract

An antioxidant therapy based on vitamin E and selenium subcutaneous (sc) injections administered prior to and after parturition, was evaluated by measuring the incidence of uterine pathologies and fertility in lactating Holstein cows. Cows (n = 353) were randomly distributed into three groups: group pre-postpartum (n = 122), cows received a sc injection of 50 mg se and 680 IU vitamin E (10 ml of mu-se) on 60 and 21 days prepartum and 30 and 90 days postpartum; group prepartum (n = 117) received a sc injection 21 days prior to parturition; control group (n = 114), cows received sc injections of saline solution (ss, 10 ml) on 60 and 21 days prepartum and 30 and 90 days postpartum. Incidence of retained fetal membranes (rfm) in control group (20.1%) was similar (p > 0.05) to prepartum group (12.8%), but it differed (p < 0.05) from pre-postpartum group (6.5%). The percentage of cows with haemorrhagic metritis (hm) was similar among groups (8.7%; p > 0.05). Proportion of cows with purulent metritis (pm) in control group (37.7%) was similar (p > 0.05) to prepartum group (33.3%), but reduced (p < 0.05) in pre-postpartum group (23.7%). The global proportion of cows showing any of the evaluated pathologies was similar (p > 0.05) for control groups (44.7%) and prepartum group (40.1%) but lower (p < 0.05) for pre-postpartum group (27%). Pregnancy rate at 150 days postpartum (pp) was greater (p < 0.08) for pre-postpartum group (70%) than control group (58.9%). In conclusion, an antioxidant therapy based on vitamin E and selenium administration, 60 and 21 days prior to parturition and 30 and 90 days after parturition, reduces the incidence of uterine pathologies and improves pregnancy rate at 150 days postpartum in Holstein cows.