Uterine bacteriology, resumption of cyclic ovarian activity and fertility in postpartum cows kept in large-scale dairy herds

The interrelation of uterine culture with course of involution, resumption of cyclic ovarian activity and subsequent reproduction were studied. It was observed that in acute putrid (endo)metritis (APE) the A. pyogenes, E. col i and some Gram-negative (GN) anaerobes have more important role in the pat hogenesis than other bacteria. The intrauterine A. pyogenes infection lasti ng for 4 to 5 weeks or longer (with or without simultaneous GN anaerobic in fection) was the most detrimental on fertility, perhaps due to the increase d rate of suspected embryonic death. If predictive information is required on the subsequent fertility, the isolation of A. pyogenes on the 5(th) week after calving seems to be sufficient for monitoring the uterine condition. The APE was able to elongate the postpartum anovulatory period and increas e the prevalence of anovulatory cysts.