Prevalence of Endometritis and Its Associated Risk Factors in Dairy Cattle of Central Uganda

Aims: Endometritis is a major postpartum disease that affects dairy cattle productivity which is accompanied by heavy economic losses to the farmer. The status of Clinical endometritis (CE) and Sub-Clinical Endometritis (SCE) in sub-Saharan Africa is poorly understood, thus the study was carried out to provide information on the prevalence and associated risk factors that are responsible for the occurrence of SCE and CE in dairy cattle of Central Uganda.
Study Design: This was a prospective study involving 140 dairy cattle within 60 days postpartum from 35 commercial dairy farms in Central Uganda. The dairy herds were visited in both the dry (n=90) and wet season (n=50) and subsequent visits were conducted after 3 months and 5 months to collect data for reproductive performance
Methodology: A metricheck® device was used to collect the cervico-vaginal discharge which was examined for color, odor, texture, and measurement of its pH during the postpartum period for diagnosis of endometritis. Further examination of the reproductive tract was carried out using a vaginal speculum and subsequently rectal palpations were performed. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of CE and SCE in the Central Uganda and assess the risk factors involved.
Results: In this study, the prevalence of CE and SCE was established at 3.6% and 18.6% respectively, this burden was slightly higher in the wet than in the dry season but with no statistical significance P=0.126. Dairy cattle that had calved more than three times were shown to be associated with a higher body appearance (BCS > 3) than those that had calved down fewer times. Dystocia, Retained After Birth and Abortion were identified as associated risk factors (P = 0.00) to SCE and CE whereas infertility and Prolonged days calving to conception (>90 d) were postpartum implications (P=0.00) associated with SCE and CE in this study. This would be attributed to the poor management of postpartum dairy cattle in the farms visited as no farm was found with a maternity pen. SCE caused infertility in 65.5% of the dairy cattle whereas the CE is a major influencing factor to long calving to first AI and calving to conception interval (306d±90.6), On basis of reproduction, there was no major difference towards use of AI or Natural service.
Conclusion: Management of endometritis in the region should address pre-partum and postpartum dairy herd management through improved extension service delivery and technical farm support to construct maternity pens, Endometritis is a multifactorial disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach to boost nutrition and health thus reducing incidence of risk factors such as dystocia and Retained fetal birth) .subsequent studies should be carried out to explore the national burden of SCE and ascertain the cause of the abortion.