Milk Production and Reproductive Performance in Postpartum Dairy Cows Diagnosed and Treated for Metritis Using a Health Monitoring Program

Abstract

After calving, uterine health can be compromised by bacterial contamination that may result in metritis which lowers milk production, fertility and can be life threatening. Early treatment of metritis is justified on the basis of animal welfare and from an economical aspect of returning affected cows to their expected level of production. Postpartum (PP) health monitoring strategies are popular in many dairies because it allows the opportunity to identify sick cows early and provide therapy for metritis. However, it is not known if PP cows that undergo a health monitoring program and are diagnosed and treated for metritis have comparable reproductive performance and milk production to cows without metritis. Objectives were to determine milk production and reproductive performance in PP dairy cows diagnosed and treated for metritis using a health monitoring program.