Diyala Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10(Special issue): 203-209, 2018 Khudhair and Jalil 302 http://www.agriculmag.uodiyala.edu.iq/ Scientific Conf., College of Vet. Med. Diyala Univ., 2018 st1 EFFECT OF DYSTOCIA AND RETAINED FETAL MEMBRANES ON MILK PRODUCTION DURING POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN DAIRY COWS IN IRAQ Noor Al-deen Yassen Khudhair 1,3 Waleed Ibrahim Jalil 2 1,2 Dept. of Surg. and Obstetrics, and Dept. of Vet. Med., respectively, College of Vet. Med., Univ. of Diyala, Iraq 3 Corresponding author: nooreddinyassin@yahoo.com ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to recognize the effect of dystocia and retained fetal membranes on the milk production of dairy cows during puerperal period. This study was conducted in alwahda station of dairy cows and milk production in southern Iraq from 2/1/2015 to 2/1/2018. The study included 223 cows which were divided into three groups according to their milk yield. The first group contains 75 cows with milk production less than (10 kgs) per cow-1 day-1, in this group 54 cows (72%) showed normal parturition, while 21 cows (28%) had dystocia and retained fetal membranes. In the second group, there were 123 cows with milk production range (11-20 kgs) per cow-1 day-1, 113 cows (92%) in this group had normal parturition, whereas 10 cows (7.9%) only experiencing dystocia and 16 cows (13.2%) in the same group had retained fetal membranes, with significantly difference between first and second groups at (P<0.01). The third group contains 25 cows with milk production more than (20kgs) per cow-1 day-1, 24 cows had normal parturition (96%), while one cow (4%) suffered from dystocia and retained fetal membranes, with significantly difference at (P<0.01) from first and second groups. It was concluded that dystocia and retained fetal membranes have noticeable effect on the cow milk yield during puerperal period. Key words: dystocia, retained fetal membranes, milk yield, dairy cows. INTRODUCTION Optimal reproductive performance is considered as the essential basis, that the milk production in dairy stations depends on, since reproductive performance influences positively on the cow milk yield (Barrier and Haskell, 2011). There are many reasons and problems lead to failure of reproductive performance and subfertility (Kaya et al., 2015), and consequently result in the economic losses in the dairy stations, and through three axis, weak reproductive efficiency of cows, shortening productive lifetime and decreasing milk yield (Rajhala and Grohen,1998). Diyala Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10(Special issue): 203-209, 2018 Khudhair and Jalil 302 http://www.agriculmag.uodiyala.edu.iq/ Scientific Conf., College of Vet. Med. Diyala Univ., 2018 st1 Dystocia is one of the most important conditions that influence negatively the reproductive performance, and defined as prolonged or difficult birth or parturition and requires assistance (Yehualu et al., 2017). There are different causes associated with dystocia in dairy cows, which result from both maternal and fetal causes (Hafez and Hafez, 2000). The related fetus causes include absolute and relative oversized fetus, faulty disposition of fetus in the birth canal (Noakes et al., 2001), while the related maternal origin of dystocia include constriction of birth canal, uterine inertia and dilation failure of cervix (Lombard et al., 2007). Other causes of this condition include feto-maternal disproportion, uterine torsion and fetal anomalies (Dohoo et al., 1984). The incidence of dystocia varies among cows, and it is most commonly in heifers than adults (Lombard et al., 2007). Dystocia has obvious impacts on the reproductive performance and animal milk yielding (Barrier and Haskell, 2011), since leading to increased still births, days open, calving interval in the subsequent milk cycles (Grohen et al., 1990 ; Kaya et al., 2015). On the other hand many studies have indicated to the interrelationship between dystocia and low milk yield (Tenhagen et al., 2007) depending on the whole 305 days cow's milk cycle. Dematawewa and Berger (1997) confirmed the sensible decreasing in the milk yielding within later 30 days post partum in the cows have suffered from dystocia and its complications. Erb (1987) indicated that the surgical treated dystocias led to low milk yielding about 9.5% of milk cycle of the treated cows. Retained fetal membranes is defined as the failure of cow to expel fetal membranes within thirty minutes to 12 hours post parturition (Sharma et al., 2017). Therefore the fetal membranes are considered to be retained if remain more than 12 hours (Taylor et al., 2010 ; Noakes et al., 2009). The incidence of this case varies with range 4-16% (Sharma et al., 2017 ; Sarder et al., 2010) and increased in herds suffering managemental problems (Andrews et al., 2004) and the dairy cows are more prone to this case compared to beef cows (LeBlanc 2008 ; Abdisa, 2018). Adane et al., (2014) have revealed the retained fetal membranes has indirect effect on the milk yielding of animal by leading to poor conception, prolonged calving interval, since 4% of milk cycle will decrease in retained fetal membranes cows. The maintenance of healthy cows is a crucial step to maintain good fertility and milk yielding (Abdisa, 2018 ; Oltenacu et al., 1984). Diyala Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10(Special issue): 203-209, 2018 Khudhair and Jalil 302 http://www.agriculmag.uodiyala.edu.iq/ Scientific Conf., College of Vet. Med. Diyala Univ., 2018 st1 MATERILAS AND METHODS This study was conducted in Al wahda dairy station located south west of Baghdad from 2/1/2015 to 2/1/2018, and included (223) hybrids between Holstein and Friesian breed cows, and the age of these cows ranges between 3 to ten years. The feeding of these cows comprised green fodders and roughages, in addition to concentrated food. The whole normal births, difficult births and retained fetal membranes cases and milk yielding of cows during 30 day postpartum were recorded. The studied cows were divided into three group: First group: included 75 cows with milk yielding less than 10 Kgs per day. Second group: included 123 cows with milk yielding about 11-20 Kgs per day. Third group: contained 25 cows with milk yielding more than 20 Kgs per day. The results were analyzed statistically using, Chi-square to significant compare among the ratios of normal births, difficult births and retained fetal membranes for these groups (SAS. 2012). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The first group (75) cows, through which the daily milk yielding of cows was less than 10 Kgs, 21 cows (28%) experiencing dystocia, this ratio is relatively high and consequently leads to increasing incidence of retained placenta and uterine problems during puerperium period and this reflects negatively on the subsequent reproductive performance, and on the general animal health and milk yield of the animals (Kaya et al., 2015). These results are in accord with Dejemali et al., (1987) who stated that the decreasing milk yielding is associated with dystocia and it is ramifications. But Rajhala and Grohen (1998) found dystocia has no significant effect on milk yielding of the cows. The same group also reveals that the rising in the cases of the retained fetal membranes, hence 21 cows (28%) of the first group were affected, and this is a rationale due to the increasing of dystocia conditions. Dawod et al., (2015) have indicated that dystocia increases the possibility of occurrence of retained placenta about 4 folded and leading the cows being infected with uterine problems. Gaafar et al., (2010) and Kaya et al., (2015) believed that retained fetal membranes being as impact factor on the milk production during the first four weeks postpartum, and the low milk yielding is accompanied with prolonged duration of retained fetal membranes and its complications, specifically within the first five days after parturition (Van werven et al., 1992), but (Rajhala and Diyala Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10(Special issue): 203-209, 2018 Khudhair and Jalil 302 http://www.agriculmag.uodiyala.edu.iq/ Scientific Conf., College of Vet. Med. Diyala Univ., 2018 st1 Grohen, 1998) didn’t find any direct effect of retained fetal membranes on the milk production within (305) days of milk cycle (Table 1). Table 1. Distribution of studied sample according to group of milk yielding, dystocia, eutocia and retained fetal membranes (No. and %) The group Eutocia Dystocia Chi square Cows without retained fetal membranes Cows have retained fetal membranes Chi square First group (75 cows) 54 (72%) 21 (28%) 12.63** 54 (72%) 21 (28%) 12.63** Second group (123 cows) 113 (92.03%) 10 (7.97%) 14.41** 107 (87%) 16 (13%) 13.85** Third group (25 cows) 24 (96%) 1 (4%) 14.93** 24 (96%) 1 (4%) 14.93** Chi square 9.294 ** --- 9.528 ** --- (P<0.01)** The results of the study have showed that the second group (123) cows, with milk yielding varied 11-20 Kgs, 10 (7.97%) cows contained in this group suffered dystocia with significant difference from the first group at (P<0.01). it has been shown in the comparison with the first group, that the cases of dystocia are relatively less than in the first group, which reflected positively on the general health of the animals and consequently on the milk production (Dubuc et al., 2011). Other studies have found the condition of dystocia has no evident effect on the low milk production of cows during the milk cycle (Kaya et al., 2015). In this study 16 cows(13%) suffered retained placenta with significant difference from the first group at (P<0.01), it has been seen that the decreasing in the incidence rate of retained placenta in this group has positive effect on the milk production during the puerperium, specifically during first four weeks postpartum, and this in agreement with (Dawod et al., 2015 ; Rajhal and Grohen, 1998) who found that the cases of retained placenta have no considerable effect on the milk production during 305 days milk cycle. The results of this study indicated that the third group which contains (25) cows through which the daily milk yielding was more than 20 Kgs, one cow in this group experienced dystocia and retained placenta (4%) with significant difference from the first and second groups. It has been seen that the total milk production in this group is more than in both first and second groups, these results reveal that the decreasing incidence of both dystocia and retained placenta led to apparent increasing of milk production in the individuals of this group. And reflected positively on the general health of these cows. These Diyala Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10(Special issue): 203-209, 2018 Khudhair and Jalil 302 http://www.agriculmag.uodiyala.edu.iq/ Scientific Conf., College of Vet. Med. Diyala Univ., 2018 st1 results have agreed with (Dawod et al., 2015 and Andraws et al., 2004) who revealed that the maintaining healthy cows is the optimal choice in maintenance of high milk production cows with high fertility, hence the number of culled cows would decrease when the whole cows are healthy and devoid from reproductive problems (Bell et al., 2010 ; Gaafar et al., 2010) (Table 1). 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Reprod. and Infertility., 8(3): 72-81. البقار تأثير كل من عسر الوالدة واحتباس المشيمة في انتاج الحليب خالل فترة النفاس في ا دراسة الحلوب 2وليد ابراهيم جليل 3، 1نور الدين ياسين خضير 1 الطب الباطني على التوالي، كلية الطب البيطري، جامعة ديالى، العراق.قسم الوالدة والجراحة وقسم 3 ، nooreddinyassin@yahoo.comالمسؤول عن النشر: 2 المستخلص الوالدة واحتباس األغشية الجنينية على إنتاج تأثير كل من عسر للتعرف علىلدراسة اهدفت هذه الحليب في أبقار الحليب خالل فترة النفاس. أجريت هذه الدراسة في محطة أبقار حليب الوحدة والواقعة بقرة والتي 332. شملت الدراسة 3/1/3012ولغاية 3/1/3012ة الممتدة من جنوبي العراق في الفتر قسمت إلى ثالث مجاميع حسب كمية الحليب المنتجة من قبل هذه األبقار. المجموعة األولى تحتوي عل ( في هذه %23بقرة ) 22الواحد، 1-لليوم 1-كيلوغرام( لكل بقرة10بقرة مع إنتاج حليب اقل من ) 22 ( عانت من عسر والدة مع احتباس لألغشية %32بقرة ) 31كانت ذات والدة طبيعية، في حين المجموعة كيلوغرام( 30-11بقرة مع معدل إنتاج حليب تراوح بين ) 132الجنينية. احتوت المجموعة الثانية على أبقار 10بينما ( في هذه المجموعة كانت لديها والدة طبيعية، %23بقرة ) 112الواحد، 1-لليوم 1-لكل بقرة ( في نفس المجموعة كان لديها احتباس %12.3بقرة ) 12( فقط كانت تعاني من عسر والدة و2.2%) (. احتوت P<0.01لألغشية الجنينية، مع فارق إحصائي معنوي بين المجموعة األولى والثانية عند ) 32الواحد، 1-لليوم 1-بقرةكيلوغرام( كل 30بقرة مع إنتاج حليب أكثر من ) 32المجموعة الثالثة على ( عانت من عسر والدة مع %2( كانت لديها والدات طبيعية في حين كان هنالك بقرة واحدة )%22بقرة ) ( بين المجموعة الثالثة والمجموعتين P<0.01احتباس لألغشية الجنينية، وبفارق إحصائي معنوي عند ) سر الوالدة واحتباس األغشية الجنينية لديه تأثير بارز األولى والثانية. يستنتج من هذه الدراسة أن كل من ع على إنتاج الحليب لدى األبقار خالل فترة النفاس. .عسر والدة، احتباس األغشية الجنينية، إنتاج الحليب، أبقار حليب الكلمات المفتاحية: