CLINICAL COURSE OF PUERPERIUM AND METABOLIC PARAMETERS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AS CRITERIA TO THE EVENTS OF CONCEPTIONIN THE NEW REPRODUCTIVE PERIOD IN DAIRY-COWS

An investigation involving 41 dairy cows was carried out to establish whether subsequent fertility can be predicted from the results of a si ngle clinical examination during puerperium. Blood parameters were det ermined three times in fortnightly intervals, compared with the result s of the clinical examination and analyzed with regard to their prospe ctive power. Based on the clinical examination animals were divided in to three groups: group A with normal puerperium, group B with delayed involution or/and azyklia, and group C with endometritis puerperalis. Fertility measured as time between calving and new conception, number of inseminations and results of first insemination differed significan tly between the three groups. Out of the 15 blood parameters determine d total bilirubin, glucose, AST, GLDH, and LDH were markers of increas ed postpartal metabolism. Statistically significant differences for th ese and other parameters could occasionally be shown between the group s but were not consistent over the whole period of investigation. Ther e was some time dependant correlation between indeces of fertility and tin order of decreasing strength of association) glucose, total bilir ubin, GLDH, LDH, inorganic phosphate, urea, and AST. CRP in bovine pla sma was significantly increased post partum. levels being higher in gr oup A than in B than in C. There was a highly significant correlation between CRP and total cholesterol whose cause needs to be established. The data suggest that tests of metabolic function are valuable in ass essing postpartal situation in dairy cows. They do not help in predict ing the course of puerperium or subsequent fertility of the cow.