Bovine Reproductive Disease Welfare: From Endometritis to Ovarian Cysts

Key Facts

• Endometritis affects 15-20% of dairy cows post-calving, causing uterine inflammation and reduced fertility
• Uterine infection and pyometra cause fever, inappetence, and systemic illness in severe cases
• Ovarian cysts cause extended anestrus, altered behavior, and sometimes bulldozer cysts causing nymphomania
• Retained placenta (failure to pass the afterbirth within 12 hours) predisposes to metritis and endometritis
• Transition period management (3 weeks before to 3 weeks after calving) is the key determinant of reproductive disease incidence

Welfare Considerations

Reproductive diseases cause significant welfare suffering, often underappreciated because their primary impact is on fertility rather than survival. Metritis causes fever, malodorous vaginal discharge, reduced appetite, and systemic toxemia in severe cases. Cows with pyometra accumulate large volumes of infected material in the uterus, causing chronic ill-thrift. The welfare-centered approach treats reproductive disease as a pain condition requiring analgesia alongside specific treatments. Transition cow management — preventing negative energy balance, hypocalcaemia, and immune suppression — is the single most impactful welfare intervention for bovine reproductive health.

What You Can Do

• Implement a transition cow program targeting body condition at calving (score 3.0-3.25 in dairy cows)
• Monitor all post-calving cows for retained placenta, fever, and uterine discharge daily for 2 weeks
• Treat endometritis with intrauterine therapy and NSAIDs to address both infection and pain
• Review calving management to minimize trauma and reduce retained placenta risk
• Consult your vet about hormonal intervention programs for herds with high reproductive disease incidence