Reproductive disorders in Simmental cattle: Enhancing fertility through a hormonal protocol

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Animal Reproduction
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Reproductive disorders like abortion, endometritis, and silent estrus challenge fertility in semi-intensive farming.
• These conditions disrupt normal physiological and hormonal functions, impairing reproductive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate hormonal protocols for managing reproductive disorders in cattle.
• To assess reproductive tract size, cervical mucus, and fertility in cattle with varying reproductive health.

Main Methods:

• Compared reproductive parameters in healthy cattle versus those with abortion, endometritis, or silent estrus.
• Assessed uterine horn dimensions, cervical mucus quality (viscosity, acidity, ferning), and fertility outcomes.
• Evaluated the impact of hormonal interventions on estrus synchronization and ovulation.

Main Results:

• Healthy cattle showed optimal fertility linked to high-quality cervical mucus and normal uterine dimensions.
• Abortion and endometritis cases had poor fertility, enlarged uterine horns, and diminished mucus quality.
• Silent estrus cases displayed intermediate results with suboptimal estrus expression and hormonal imbalances.
• Positive correlation between cervical mucus characteristics and fertility; negative correlation between uterine horn dimensions and fertility.

Conclusions:

• Hormonal protocols can synchronize estrus and induce ovulation but efficacy varies with disorder severity and management.
• Integrated strategies including nutrition, environmental management, and estrus detection are crucial for optimizing reproductive performance.
• Findings offer a framework for managing reproductive challenges in Simmental cattle for sustainable production.