Infertility in cattle accounts for major economic losses in dairy farming
and dairy industry. It becomes an economical burden to the farmers, since an
unproductive animal has to be maintained, and in most countries such animals
are driven to slaughterhouses.
Infertility describes as a temporary disturbance of reproductive function
in which cows or buffaloes fail to conceive and give birth to young ones. A healthy cow can normally produce a calf for
every 12-14 months interval.
Also a cow should come to
estrus within 90 days after calving otherwise the calving interval is
prolonged. Infertility can be due to malnutrition, infections, congenital
defects, and ovulatory or hormonal imbalances. Infertility is also due to poor
management of calves resulting in delayed puberty and first calving. Therefore
good management practices should be adopted right from the calf hood.
Sterility is a total loss of
fertility and maintaining such animals is a waste and should be culled. Whereas
infertility is a temporary loss of fertility can be corrected if diagnosed in
the right time.
The incidence of infertility is
more in buffaloes due to their seasonal way of breeding and poor regulatory
system of body temperature. Buffaloes require special management skills to
prevent infertility.
The causes of infertility are
many and can be complex.
Diseases of the genital organs
- Salpingitis
- Hydrosalpinx
- Pyosalpinx
- Endometritis
- Pyometra
- Retained placenta
Infectious causes of infertility
- Trichomoniasis
- Brucellosis
- Vibriosis
- Leptospirosis
Physiological causes of
infertility
- Anoestrus
- Repeat breeding
- Cystic ovaries
- Silent heat
Anatomical causes of
infertility
- Fremartinism
- Hypoplasia of the ovaries and uterus or infantile genitalia
- Diseases of the genital organs
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