Combined GnRH and PGF2α application in cows with endometritis puerperalis treated with antibiotics

The investigations were carried out on a total of 70 cows with puerperal endometritis. In addition to intrauterine antibiotic treatment. 30 experimental animals were administered 20 mug GnRH analogue, buserelin. between days 10 and 12 postpartum followed by 500 mug PGF(2x) analogue, cloprostenol, 10 days later. Forty control cows were treated only with intrauterine antibiotics. Blood samples for progesterone determination were collected froin the tail vein twice weekly until day 70 post-partum. The first rise in progesterone level above 3.18 nmol/l occurred significantly earlier in the experimental than in control cows (21.6 +/- 9.2 versus 27.8 +/- 12.3 days p less than or equal to 0.05). The duration of the first cycle post-partum was 15.0 +/- 4.3 days in experimental and 1.7 +/- 7.3 days in control animals (p less than or equal to 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the occurrence of first oestrus post-partum. The involution of the uterus was improved after hormone treatment. At day 42 post-partum, completion of uterine involution was found in 93.3% of hormone-treated cows and in 82.5% of those treated with antibiotic only (p less than or equal to 0.05), Clinical recovery was 96.6% in the experimental and 82.5% in the control group (p ! 0.05). First service pregnancy rate was significantly better in hormone-treated than control cows (51.7 versus 36.4%. p less than or equal to 0.05). Total pregnancy rate and insemination index values were not significantly improved following GnRH and PGF(2x) treatment. The average service period was 89.8 +/- 21.2 days in cows after hormone treatment, and 112.6 +/- 24.5 days in control cows. The difference was statistically significant (p ! 0.05). These results indicate. that the sequential GnRH and PGF(2x) application in cows with puerperal endometritis positively affected ovarian function and uterine involution, resulting in improved fertility performance.