Between 10 and 28 days in milk, our vet palpates and checks each of our fresh cows. The goal is to ensure that cows have cleaned properly and are off to a good start. We also monitor cows before and after this check for any signs of being off. As simple as this protocol is, we find that we can identify cows struggling and provide support.
I’m sure many farms are similarly able to assist fresh cows in getting off on the right foot. Researchers who have compiled data on uterine infections have found that monitoring discharge can indicate cow health for the entire lactation.
In a recent Journal of Dairy Science article, scientists from the University of Florida and a number of cooperating universities detailed the financial implications of purulent vaginal discharge.
Purulent is defined as discharge that is at least 50% pus filled. For this analysis, it included any purulent discharge (pus), mucopurulent (mucus and pus), or reddish-brown when collected within the first 28 days in milk.
The researchers found that cows with purulent vaginal discharge produced less milk on average at 21,456 pounds of milk for the lactation, as opposed to 21,987 pounds of milk for cows that had normal discharge. Those with compromised discharge were less likely to be pregnant and more likely to have been culled by 305 days in milk.
The goal of the scientists was to put a number on the repercussions of purulent vaginal discharge. They found milk sales were off $117 on average for the lactation. Additionally, residual cow value was lower, while replacement and reproductive management costs were higher.
In total, they found that purulent vaginal discharge can cost farmers up to $202 per case. This same group of researchers found that a case of metritis cost an average of $511 per cow in a 2021 study.
The good news is purulent discharge has less impact on animals than metritis by definition, but farms should be aware that cows presenting with compromised discharge have a tougher road ahead.
The author is a dairy farmer in Kansas and a former associate editor at Hoard’s Dairyman. Raised on a 150-cow dairy near Valley Center, Kansas, Maggie graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in agricultural communications and animal sciences.
