Effect of zeolite on return of ovarian activity, involution and uterine health in postpartum dairy grazing bred cows [Efecto de la zeolita sobre retorno de la actividad ovárica, involución y salud uterina en vacas lecheras postparto criadas en pastoreo]

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of natural zeolite in dairy cows for 105 days which included the pre-partum (60 days) and post-partum (45 days) period, on the return of ovarian activity (ROA), uterine involution (UI), uterine health (UH), and body score condition (BSC). Fifty Holstein Friessian grazing cows were used, with ? 3.5 BSC at drying off, between 2 and 5 calving, clinically healthy, with similar sanitary and management conditions. The cows were randomly divided in two groups: control (CG; n1 = 25) fed basal diet; and experimental (EG: n2 = 25) with basal diet + zeolite (2%) of dry matter intake (DMI), equivalent to 180 and 270 g/cow/day, for dry and lactation period, respectively. The ROA was determined by transrectal ultrasonography at 15, 22, 35 and 45 days by the presence of follicles ? 10 mm diameter; UI by rectal palpation at 22 and 45 ppd evaluated by uterus position with respect to the pelvis (UP) and symmetry of the uterine horns (SUH); UH by cytobrush at 35 days; and BSC at 15 days pre-partum, at calving and 45 days post-partum, were evaluated. The zeolite effect was assessed by “U Mann Whitney and Kruscall Wallis” test. The results obtained of the ovarian and uterine variables and BSC were better (P < 0.001) for EG than CG; higher percentage of cows with ROA to 35 days for EG than CG, 52.0% of CG cows and 4% of EG did not return their post-partum ovarian activity; higher percentage of cows that involved her uterus at 45 days regarding UP and SUH; better UH at 35 days expressed by PMN (%); and better BSC at 15 bpd, birth and 45 ppd. Finally, a significant correlation (P < 0.001) between the BSC at 45 days with the percentage of cows that returned their post-partum ovarian activity, UH at 35 days and UI at 45 days. In conclusion, the addition of natural zeolite in the basal diet of grazing dairy cows, before and after calving, was effective in stimulating the return of ovarian activity, improving involution and uterine health, and body score condition, recommending its use in the dairy herds.