An Interconnection between Elevated SCC Levels in Milk around the First Artificial Insemination and Pregnancy Rate in Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the somatic cell count (SCC) levels measured at 28-test-day intervals or pregnancy rate at the first artificial insemination of Holstein Friesian cows. All necessary information was taken from test day and farm records. Levels of SCC in milk, 30 days before, and 30 days after the first artificial insemination (FAI) date were divided into 4 categories and their interconnection with pregnancy rate (PR) at FAI was evaluated by applying logistic models. A SCC threshold of 150.000 cells/ml of milk was used to differentiate uninfected udders and infected udders of Holstein Friesian cows. A level of SCC > 150.000 cells/ml in milk, and a level of SCC < 150.000 cells/ml before and after FAI respectively were considered udders with new infections. A level of SCC > 150.000 cells/ml in milk before FAI as well as after FAI, was considered chronically infected udders or subclinical intramammary infections (IMI). Data from 792 FAIs from farm and test day records over a 4-year period (2019-2022) were evaluated. The outcome of this study revealed that the risk for low PR at the first AI was increased in cows with infected udders (OR = 1.33, CI 0.99 - 1.78), compared with uninfected udders. Increased levels of SCC after FAI had a negative effect on PR, while before FAI was not affected. To achieve a good PR, mastitis control measures must be fully adopted to a large extent around the first AI.

Evaluating the clinical efficacy of Thunder-Fire moxibustion combined with ovulation monitoring in the treatment of adenomyosis combined with infertility

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of Thunder-Fire moxibustion combined with ovulation monitoring for the treatment of adenomyosis-associated infertility.A series of 120 patients diagnosed with uterine adenomyosis and infertility and cold coagulation blood stasis syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine(with the clinical manifestations of premenstrual or menstrual lower abdomen cold pain,pain reduction with heat application,and cold extremities)were randomized equally to treatment group with Thunder-Fire moxibustion and ovulation monitoring as well as control group with ovulation monitoring only.Treatment continued for six menstrual cycles.The pregnancy rate of the treatment group was significantly increased with the control group(50.0%vs.23.3%,P=0.021).Dysmenorrhea and the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in the treatment group improved significantly compared with the control group(3.87±2.03 vs.5.70±1.01,P=0.002 and 7.33±4.11 vs.10.52±2.33,P=0.006,respectively),and there was also significant between-group differences in serum cancer antigen 125(55.45±14.65 vs.63.34±11.41,P=0.031).However,the average uterus diameters in the treatment and control groups were not significantly different(67.13±7.59 vs.69.89±5.30,P=0.137).Thunder-Fire moxibustion with ovulation monitoring improved the pregnancy rate of patients diagnosed with adenomyosis-associated infertility.