Jae-Kwan Jeong

Inflammatory cytokine concentrations in uterine flush and serum samples from dairy cows with clinical or subclinical endometritis.

The objective of this study was to compare the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in uterine flush and serum from healthy postpartum dairy cows and cows with clinical or subclinical endometritis. Clinical endometritis was diagnosed by observation of vaginal discharges (>50% pus) and subclinical endometritis was diagnosed by evaluation of uterine cytology (neutrophils >18%) at 4 weeks postpartum. Uterine flush was obtained from 48 cows at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum for evaluation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations. Serum samples were obtained from 34 cows just after calving and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum for evaluation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations. Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were greater (P < 0.05) in cows with clinical endometritis than in cows with subclinical endometritis and healthy controls, whereas concentrations of IL-8 in both cows with clinical and subclinical endometritis were greater (P < 0.005) than in controls. Overall, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations decreased during the postpartum period. IL-1β concentrations in cows with clinical endometritis decreased (P < 0.0005) during the postpartum, whereas concentrations in cows with subclinical endometritis and controls did not change significantly with time; at 4 weeks postpartum, concentrations were greater (P < 0.0001) in cows with clinical endometritis. There were no significant effects of group, sampling time, or interaction on serum cytokine concentrations. In conclusion, cows with endometritis have greater inflammatory cytokine concentrations in uterine flush than healthy cows, but no differences were observed in serum.

Relationships among ketosis, serum metabolites, body condition, and reproductive outcomes in dairy cows

We determined the relationships among ketosis, serum metabolites, body condition, and reproductive disorders and performance in dairy cows. Blood samples from 213 dairy cows were collected at 4 and 2 weeks prepartum, just after calving, and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum to measure serum β-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), glucose, total cholesterol, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and progesterone concentrations. Cows were grouped on the basis of the β-hydroxybutyrate concentration at 1 and/or 2 weeks postpartum into two groups: the ketotic group (≥1200 μmol/L, n = 59) and the nonketotic group (<1200 μmol/L, n = 154). The body condition score (BCS) was assessed simultaneously with blood collection. Clinical endometritis was diagnosed by observation of vaginal discharges (>50% pus), and subclinical endometritis was diagnosed by evaluation of uterine cytology (>18% neutrophils) at 4 weeks postpartum. Ovarian cysts were diagnosed by ultrasonography, and resumption of postpartum cyclicity was evaluated by progesterone concentrations (≥1 ng/mL) at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum. In the ketotic group, NEFA levels were higher (P ≤ 0.0005), whereas glucose (P < 0.05-0.0005) and urea nitrogen levels (P < 0.05-0.01) were lower than those in the nonketotic group during the postpartum period. Aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher (P < 0.01) in the ketotic group than those in the nonketotic group at 2 weeks postpartum. The BCS of the ketotic group was higher than the nonketotic group during the prepartum (P < 0.001) and postpartum (P < 0.05-0.001) periods. The probabilities of clinical endometritis (odds ratio = 2.55) and ovarian cysts (odds ratio = 2.80) were higher (P < 0.05) in the ketotic group than those in the nonketotic group. The hazards of resumption of postpartum cyclicity by 8 weeks postpartum (hazard ratio = 0.67) and pregnancy by 360 days postpartum (hazard ratio = 0.68) were lower (P < 0.05) in the ketotic group. In conclusion, a higher BCS during prepartum and postpartum period and increased NEFA and aspartate aminotransferase levels, along with decreased glucose and urea nitrogen levels during postpartum, were associated with ketosis, increased reproductive disorders, and decreased reproductive performance in dairy cows.

Investigation of Reasons for Culling in Chungcheong Dairy Herds

This study was conducted to investigate reasons for culling of Chungcheong dairy herds and to investigate the relationships between cow parity, interval from calving to culling, or season and culling reasons. Lactation data from 826 cows on 9 dairy farms from 2013 to 2015, including reasons for culling, dates of birth, last calving, and culling, were analyzed. The overall culling rate was 29.8% (246/826), with mammary problems (23.2%) being the most prevalent reason for culling, followed by infertility (14.2%) and downer cow syndrome (11.0%). The culling rate varied among farms (18.8-43.1%, p < 0.05), but was greater in parity 4 ≤ (40.7%) than parities 1, 2, or 3 (17.9-23.6%), whereas the rate was less frequent during mid lactation (21.1%) than in early (36.2%) or late (42.7%) lactation. Moreover, the culling rate was greater during summer (35.8%) than other seasons (20.3-23.2%). Mammary problems, downer cow syndrome, and metabolic disorders were the more common reasons for culling during early lactation, whereas infertility was predominant during late lactation. Our data show that the culling rate in Chungcheong dairy herds was associated with cow parity, interval from calving to culling, and season, with the main reasons for the removal of cows from dairy herds being mammary problems, infertility, and downer cow syndrome.

Trials to Increase the Availability of Ovsynch Program Under Field Conditions in Dairy Cows

This study investigated whether presynchronization with GnRH 6 days before initiation of the Ovsynch program improved reproductive outcomes in dairy cows. Additionally, postponement of initiation of the Ovsynch program for cows during the metestrus phase by 5 days was investigated to determine if it improved reproductive outcomes. To accomplish this, 941 Holstein dairy cows with unknown estrous cycle were randomly allocated into an Ovsynch group (n = 768; 100 μg gonadorelin [a GnRH analogue], 500 μg of cloprostenol [PGF 2α analogue] seven days later, 100 μg gonadorelin 56 h later and timed artificial insemination [AI] 16 h after) and a G6-Ovsynch (n = 173) that received 100 μg GnRH followed by the Ovsynch program 6 days later. Additionally, 272 dairy cows with known estrous cycle (metestrus stage) received the Ovsynch 5 days later (Day 5-Ovsynch group, n = 272). The odds ratio (OR) for pregnancy was analyzed by logistic regression using the LOGISTIC procedure in SAS. The treatment group (p 0.05). The Day 5-Ovsynch group had a higher probability of pregnancy (OR: 1.71) than the Ovsynch group, while that of the G6-Ovsynch group was intermediate (p > 0.05). Cows inseminated during winter had a higher OR (1.39) than those inseminated during spring. Overall, additional GnRH treatment 6 days before the Ovsynch did not improve reproductive outcomes, whereas postponement of the initiation of Ovsynch by 5 days for cows during metestrus improved reproductive outcomes.