...you probably knew that already but it is always useful when robust research backs up common sense and more importantly allows us to quantify the problem.
In the next few articles, we are going to run through:-
- A recently published study on the effect of mastitis on fertility and improving outcome with NSAIDs
- What happens to the fertility of cows with mastitis?
- What effect can Metacam have on cows affected by mastitis?
- What does this mean for me?
- Do other NSAIDs have the same effect?
Part Three - What effect can Metacam have on cows affected by mastitis?
The addition of Metacam to the treatment regime had a remarkable effect on these fertility parameters.
A higher proportion of cows conceived to their 1st AI, boosted by 50% from 21% to 31% simply due to the addition of Metacam to the treatment regime. The proportion of cows served 21 days after voluntary wait after calving was not affected, so it seems mastitis does not affect whether the cows come bulling so much as whether the egg fertilises and implants correctly.
Fewer serves were required to get the Metacam treated cows pregnant, a saving of 0.5 AI straws and labour from 2.9 AIs to 2.4 for cows treated with Metacam.
A higher proportion of cows treated for mastitis in first 120 days were pregnant by 120 days when Metacam was added to the treatment protocol. From 31% with antibiotics alone to 40% when Metacam was used as well.
This means 10% more cows affected by mastitis will have a calving interval of 400+ days if you are not using Metacam in mastitis treatment.
Click here to read part four and five - What does this mean for me? and Do other NSAIDs have the same effect?
