EFFECT OF REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS PREVIOUS TO CONCEPTION ON PREGNANCY ATTRITION IN DAIRY-COWS

This study was undertaken to determine whether reproductive disorders previous to conception influence pregnancy attrition in dairy cows. Re productive disorders were registered and pregnancy diagnoses were perf ormed as a part of a reproductive health program at 9 commercial dairy herds in northeastern Spain. Data from 3022 diagnosed pregnant lactat ing cows were used. Pregnancy diagnosis by palpation per rectum was pe rformed from 33 to 70 d post insemination. Pregnancy attrition was reg istered when the pregnancy diagnosis was negative at the second palpat ion carried out between 120 and 150 d following insemination. Data ana lysis was performed by multiple logistic regression methods. Pregnancy attrition rates were 2.6 and 1.8 times higher in cows with previous p yometra and retained placenta, respectively, than in cows without thes e disorders. No effect of endometritis, ovarian cysts and repeat breed ing was shown on pregnancy attrition. Our results suggest that additio nal efforts to reduce the risk of retained placenta and pyometra shoul d decrease the incidence of pregnancy attrition in dairy cows.