Clinical and biochemical monitoring of reproductive health of cows in farms of different organizational forms of the Udmurt republic

Abstract

Holsteinized black-and-white cows aged 4—5 years were studied in the conditions of a peasant farm and a large agricultural enterprise in the Udmurt Republic. A total of 40 cows were examined at each enterprise, subdivided into 4 groups of 10 cows each. The first group included newly-calved cows; the second group included grassy animals but not tested for pregnancy; the third group included pregnant cows at different stages; and the fourth group included open cows. Rectal and ultrasound examinations, biochemical blood tests. Despite a comparable prevalence of limb diseases and mastitis (23,1—24,9 %), the disease structure exhibited significant inter-farm variations. Obstetric and gynecological diseases predominated in the small-scale farm (40,0 %), whereas metabolic disorders (18,5 %) and gastrointestinal pathologies (16.4 %) were more prevalent in the large-scale agricultural enterprise. Gynecological screening of fresh cows in the small-scale farm revealed uterine subinvolution (10 %) and metritis (30 %); in the large-scale enterprise, metritis was recorded in 40 % of the animals. Among open (nonpregnant) cows in the small-scale farm, luteal cysts (60 %) and chronic metritis (40 %) were diagnosed, while the industrial complex showed luteal (80 %) and follicular (20 %) cysts. Comparative analysis identified inter-farm variability in the metabolic status of the cows. In the small-scale farm, hyperproteinemia and increased globulin fractions were established (p≤0,05); combined with high alkaline phosphatase activity (p≤0,05) in open cows, this indicates the synergistic impact of unbalanced nutrition and chronic hepatobiliary disorders. In the industrial complex, urea concentrations in all groups significantly exceeded the values of the small-scale farm (p≤0,05), reaching a peak alongside a concurrent albumin deficiency (p≤0,01—0,02). This metabolic pattern indicates an excess of rumen-degradable protein in the diet, which determines a high incidence of ovarian cysts and increases the risks of embryo implantation failure.