Infertility and lethargy of cows: causes and how they are detected, treatment and prevention

Sleepiness of cows lasting longer than physiologically reasonable terms, and infertility of cattle of both sexes are a big problem in animal husbandry. Especially it scares novice business executives. However, a systematic analysis of their activities helps the owners of farms and individual animals to cope with the task of reproducing livestock and obtaining dairy products.

Causes of infertility in cows and bulls

A heifer can bear offspring only 24-28 months after birth. Unforeseen infertility destroys the owner's plans and hits his pocket. Therefore, it is important to avoid causes that can lead a cow, heifer or bull to such a condition, and try to diagnose reproductive dysfunction as early as possible.

Through the fault of the farmer himself

The owner must know that in order to obtain offspring of cattle, it is necessary to provide animals with decent maintenance. The cause of lethargy or infertility can be:

• malnutrition;
• bad containment conditions;
• errors in the technique of insemination of cows and heifers;
• deviations from the algorithm recommended by specialists for rearing young animals.

With a constant lack of food consumed, the body begins to use its own resources to support the life of a cow, heifer or bull to the detriment of many body functions.

Change and disrupt metabolic processes, the controlling purpose of the nervous and endocrine systems cannot be fully realized. Among others, the reproductive function of cattle is also disrupted.

Additional feed also has negative consequences for cows and heifers. Fatty degeneration of the tissues of the ovaries and uterus often occurs. Excess weight in a sire reduces potency. Such threats are especially real in violation of the activity of the endocrine glands.

The normal functioning of the reproductive system of cows and bulls should be expected with a balance in the feed of proteins, carbohydrates, trace elements and vitamins. It is important to give animals food at the same time. Especially dangerous is underfeeding or malnutrition at the end of the cow's pregnancy and after calving.

The following factors can cause infertility:

• low temperature for stalling;
• dampness;
• low light around the clock;
• high concentration of ammonia in the room;
• lack of movement and fresh air.

Insemination of cows and heifers should be done under the guidance of an experienced specialist. Injury to the genital organs of females or infection during artificial insemination or mating with a sire is unacceptable.

For the reproduction of the herd, the best calves and heifers in terms of physiological parameters are selected:

• there should be no close family ties between females and males;
• conclusions about the he althy state of their reproductive organs need to be coordinated with a veterinary examination, tests;
• parents of individuals intended for reproduction of the herd must be distinguished by outstanding qualities in the required direction;
• live weight of young animals meets the standards developed by veterinarians and breeders.

The nutritional norms of such young animals are observed especially carefully, taking into account age characteristics. Mating before the onset of puberty of the heifer cannot be carried out. Attempts to reduce the period of barrenness within 3 months after calving before the onset of natural estrus in the female can be detrimental.

Cows that have already been proven to carry a he althy calf can lead to a malfunction in the body:

• rough treatment;
• inept use of the milking machine;
• Incompetent intervention in the birth process.

You just need to watch the calving until it becomes clear that the animal cannot cope on its own. Can't:

• break through the fetal bladder;
• apply your own efforts to get the calf out.

Amniotic fluid plays an important role in the process of uterine dilatation in a cow. The impact of forces unforeseen by physiology at the time of childbirth most likely leads to injury to the reproductive organs. Infection causing inflammation is almost guaranteed.

Other factors

Cows and bulls are not immune to genital anomalies. Most often, asymptomatic factors that are not detected in parents lead to them:

• underdevelopment of the egg or zygote;
• sperm deficiency.

Increased development of the sexual characteristics of the opposite sex with dystrophy of the reproductive organs of one's own, or hermaphroditism, also makes animals unable to bear children.

Cow infertility can be caused by the body's immune response to foreign sperm proteins. It gets stronger:

• inflammatory processes in the genitals;
• stressful situations;
• incomplete recovery of the uterus after calving.

How infertility is detected in cattle

The absence of estrus in a sexually mature cow is a sign of sexual dysfunction. In he althy females, the state of hunting is repeated every 18-24 days. The weak excitability of a sexually mature male in comparison with other producers or a sharp change in his behavior is alarming.

Gynecological examinations of cows and andrological examinations of bulls most likely diagnose pathological conditions of the animal reproductive system.

Methods of treating the problem

First of all, the cause of infertility in cows and bulls is identified. Depending on her:

• changing living and feeding conditions;
• pay special attention to the possible toxic effect of microflora and the accumulation of toxic gases in barns;
• treat inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus, mastitis.

Preventive control measures

Continuous monitoring and accounting helps to maintain a stable state of the herd in accordance with economic plans. It is required to keep a log of observations of cows and bulls, to analyze in a timely manner in the aggregate:

• animal behavior;
• recommended by a veterinarian;
• reaction to different food menus, changing conditions.

Metabolic disorders offset the benefits of a balanced diet. Therefore, laboratory studies of the physiological state of heifers, bulls and cows are important.

In the schedule of organizational events, you must enter:

• scheduled inspections of the reproductive herd;
• Monthly veterinary examinations of cows that did not go into heat 2 months after calving or remained lethargic (absence of pregnancy) after two or more inseminations.

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