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EFFICACY OF OZONE AS A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR ENDOMETRITIS IN DAIRY COWS

The aim of this research was to investigate the frequency of endometritis (EM) in dairy cows and efficacy of ozone spray as a novel therapeutic agent for the EM. Dairy cows (n= 253) aged from 2 to 10 years were housed in farms in the north-western region of Croatia. Animals were divided into three groups based on the uterine findings and diagnose of either EM or clinically normal controls. The first and the second group comprised cows with diagnosed EM at days 25, 35 and/or 45 after parturition. The third group included animals without clinical signs of uterine inflammation. The first group of cows that suffered from the EM were treated with ozonated foam (Riger spray G) applied into the uterus of cows for 6 seconds. The second group of cows were treated with different antibiotics (AB) for intrauterine use. After the therapy, cows were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen by experienced inseminators upon the owner’s call. The cows were examined by transrectal ultrasonography every 3 weeks after the insemination until the pregnancy was confirmed. The EM was diagnosed in 65 out of 253 cows, whereas 188 cows were without signs of the EM. The conception rate in the cows treated with either ozone spray or AB as well as in the clinically healthy controls were 2.13 (n=32), 2.21 (n=33) and 1.90 (n=188), respectively. The average time from the first insemination until pregnancy was similar for the first and the second group of cows. The days open period until pregnancy in dairy cows with the EM that were treated with ozone spray was the longest (131.22 days), while this period was shorter in the cows treated with AB (127.51) as well as in the controls (122.02). Therefore, the intrauterine ozone flush has a potential to alleviate the EM as an effective treatment option within overall positive impact on the fertility in dairy cows.

alternative therapy; antibiotics; ozone; uterus; cattle

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