Evaluation of a modified surgical technique to correct urine pooling in cows

Temporal disposition of pelvic girdle, vagina and vulva in relation to urovagina in cycling and pregnant-postpartum cows

Urovagina (UV) is less studied in cows. The vaginal contents, constrictor vestibule muscle activity, circulating progesterone, pelvic girdle, vagina and vulva angles were compared on Days 0 and 14 within and between UV (UV group; n = 36) and normal (N group; n = 36) cows. The oestrous duration was compared among the groups. Parameters for various UV severities were also compared. Another set of pregnant-postpartum cows (P-PP group; n = 31) underwent monthly evaluations for UV and the angles from the third month of pregnancy until the second month postpartum. The effect of age, parity and body condition score on UV severities on Day 0, and parity on angles in the P-PP group was evaluated. Different variables were correlated in different groups. The UV group was repeat breeder, exhibited prolonged oestrus and reduced progesterone on Day 14. The latter increased with UV severity on Day 0. On Day 14, severe form of UV was more prevalent. The UV severity increased with parity. In the UV group, a cranioventral pelvic girdle on Day 0 became more cranioventral on Day 14 and was correlated with the vagina moving from a caudodorsal position on Day 0 to a cranioventral position on Day 14. In the P-PP group, the pelvic girdle and vagina remained caudodorsal and UV was undetectable throughout the study. Vagina and vulva displayed a parity-by-month interaction in the P-PP group. To summarize, the UV characteristics were influenced by the oestrous cycle stage, pelvic girdle angles, and parity.

Surgical Procedures of the Genital Organs of Cows

Reproductive surgical techniques are considered by practitioners/clinicians of theriogenology to be the most beneficial reproductive management that can be performed to treat conditions of cows that may affect fertility. Conditions affecting the reproductive tract can cause pathologic changes that may result in substantial economic and genetic losses to beef and dairy producers. Some injuries and diseases are amenable to surgical treatment. Surgical restoration of fertility preserves genetic potential and economic productivity. The surgical procedures described in this article are some of the most commonly used to restore fertility in cows with injury or diseases affecting their reproductive tracts.

Evaluation of a modification of the McKinnon technique to correct urine pooling in mares

The urethral fold of 30 mares was split transversely into dorsal and ventral shelves, and the ventral shelf was used to help create a urethral extension. The dorsal shelf was stretched caudally and sutured to the roof of the extension so that it covered at least the cranial half of the extension. For 20 mares, a relaxing, vaginal incision was created cranial to the external urethral orifice to enable the dorsal shelf to be retracted further caudally. Ten of the 30 mares (33.3 per cent) developed a defect, but none developed a defect in that portion covered by the dorsal shelf of the urethral fold. Two of the 30 mares (6.7 per cent) developed a defect so small that the defect could be detected only by inserting a dye, under pressure, into the tunnel. The total number of mares that developed only a grossly visible and palpable defect was eight of 30 (26.6 per cent). Four of the 10 mares that did not receive the relief incision and six of 20 mares that did receive the relief incision developed a defect in the extension. Modifying the McKinnon technique by transversely splitting the urethral fold and retracting the dorsal half helps prevent a defect from forming in the cranial portion of the extension. The dorsal shelf can be retracted further caudally by creating a relief incision on the floor of the vagina.

Prevalence of urovagina and its effects on reproductive performance in Holstein cows

Two hundred fifty-eight Holstein cows (n=344 lactations) from seven dairy herds were examined every month by vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation to determine the prevalence of urovagina, to investigate its effects on fertility, and to determine some risk factors for urovagina. Accumulation of urine in the vagina of a cow was diagnosed as urovagina and was classified into mild (urine only on the floor of vagina), moderate (urine covering less than or equal to half portion of the external cervical os), or severe (urine covering more than half or whole portion of the external cervical os). In total, 26.7% of lactations had urovagina (mild 11.3%, moderate 11.0%, and severe 4.4%). Survival analysis was used to derive the case definition of clinically relevant urovagina based on the factors associated with increased time to conception. Only moderate (hazard ratio [HR]=0.39) and severe (HR=0.20) degrees of urovagina were associated with reduction in pregnancy rate and thus defined as clinically relevant urovagina. Cows with clinically relevant urovagina had decreased AI submission rate (HR=0.52) and pregnancy rate (HR=0.35), required more inseminations per conception (5 vs. 2; P<0.001), had more days open (370 vs. 136; P<0.001), and were more likely not to get pregnant by 210 d postpartum (odds ratio [OR]=6.62) and to be culled for any reasons (OR=5.32) or for reproductive reasons (OR=9.54) compared with those in cows with no urovagina. Cows with clinically relevant urovagina had a higher risk of endometritis (36.4% vs. 9.2%; P<0.001) compared with that in cows without urovagina. Cow, low BCS at first postpartum examination (OR=2.85), endometritis within 60 d (OR=2.50), and horizontal vulva (OR=9.30) were risk factors for urovagina. In conclusion, 15.4% of lactations had clinically relevant urovagina that increased the risk of endometritis and had detrimental effects on fertility. Individual susceptibility, low BCS, and horizontal vulva increased the risk of diagnosing urovagina in Holstein cows.