Oral and Poster Abstracts

anaerobes. Aerobic bacteria isolated from clinical
metritis/endometritis cases were highly susceptible to
amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In treatment of infertility in cows,
hormones and antibiotic products are mostly applied. The usefulness
for treatment and prophylaxis of antibacterial compounds,
hormones, antioxidants or immunomodulators and combinations of
this medicine was tested by different scientific teams. Apart from the
influence of the genital tract diseases, metabolic disorders and
mastitis on the reproduction efficiency in cows, examinations were
also conducted that concerned the regulation of the corpus luteum
function, effects of xenobiotics on the genital tract, molecular basis
and maternal recognition of the pregnancy and early embryo
mortality.
Key words: cow, infertility, diseases, treatment, prophylaxis
116 Factors of Non-infectious Nature Affecting Early Foetal Loss
in High Producing Dairy Herds in North-Eastern Spain
F. López-Gatius 1 , O. Szenci 2 , G. Bech-Sábat 1 , I. García-Ispierto 3 ,
B. Serranod 4 , P. Santolaria 5 , J. Yániz 5
1
University of Lleida, Department of Animal Production, Lleida,
Spain
2
Szent István University Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department
of Animal Production, Budapest, Hungary
3
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Anatomy and Embryology,
Barcelona, Spain
4
C.I.T.A., Gobierno de Aragón, Department of Animal Production,
Zaragoza, Spain
5
University of Zaragoza, Department of Animal Production, Huesca,
Spain
Following a positive pregnancy diagnosis, early foetal loss is
becoming the commonest complication of gestation in high
producing dairy herds in North-Eastern Spain. We present here data
derived from 14 studies and one abstract published in peer-reviewed
journals during the period 1996 to 2008 that analysed the effects of
factors of a non-infectious nature affecting early foetal loss in high
producing dairy herds. Results included a total of 15,525
pregnancies in well-managed, commercial, Holstein-Friesian high
producing dairy herds over the period 1987 to 2007. Since the effects
of different factors practically did not vary throughout the years, data
from the different studies were pooled and the relative risk of every
individual factor on foetal loss is described. Points to be highlighted
should include that strong risk factors for pregnancy loss were parity
(lactating cows versus heifers), semen-providing bull, warm season
and twin pregnancies, whereas the presence of an additional corpus
luteum was identified as a strong positive factor favouring the
maintenance of gestation. Progesterone supplementation had the
potential to reduce the incidence of pregnancy loss. From a practical
point of view, assessment of normal development of gestation on
days 60 and 90 after insemination is suggested.
Key words: early foetal loss, milk production, dairy cows
117 Performance Parameters and the Predicted Economic Return
of Jersey Holstein-Friesian Crossbred Cows in Australian
Pasture-based Herds
M. Pyman, K. Macmillan, G. Anderson
University of Melbourne, Department of Veterinary Sciences,
Werribee, Australia
This study compared the reproductive performance and milk
production of Holstein-Friesian cows to that of Jersey Holstein-
Friesian crossbred cows in 14 Australian herds. An economic model
using the study results was developed to determine the profitability of
crossbreeding in pasture-based, seasonally calving herds. Data were
collected over a single lactation from 3,347 cows comprising 2,373
Holstein-Friesian (FFFF), 669 Jersey Holstein-Friesian first cross
(JJFF) and 305 backcross (FFJF) cows. First service conception rates to
artificial insemination were based on 2,179 FFFF and 894 crossbred
cows. Reproductive performance of the crossbred cows was superior
to the FFFF cows for first service conception rate (54.7% vs. 47.0%,
p=0.0002), pregnancy rate after 14 weeks of breeding (83.7% vs.
77.0%, p